Thesis: Başak Şıklar

Throughout its 95 year-long life, the Bauhaus Dessau has gone through numerous phases of renovations. Still regarded as Walter Gropius’ greatest contribution to the world, the building is an icon of what would later be called the International Style and an inspiration for the culture of design schools that followed. One of the leading examples of the industrial aesthetic in architecture, the building was known for the extensive use of glass throughout the structure, which provided reflection and transparency, but also caused issues related to thermal comfort, especially as user expectations and building standards changed over time. This thesis looks at the renovation processes that have impacted the windows of the Bauhaus Dessau and analyzes the strategies of renovation from a preservation perspective and an energy efficiency perspective, while considering the challenges that have been addressed by the everchanging group of stakeholders.