The GWH Group, one of Germany's largest housing stock owners with approximately 53,000 managed apartments, is committing to the interdisciplinary NEW bauhaus festival as a partner. The festival is scheduled for 2 and 3 September 2026 in Weimar and is dedicated to discussing the future of the built environment from diverse perspectives. This partnership continues GWH's commitment, which began with VISIONALE 2025, the predecessor format to NEW bauhaus.
Stefan Bürger, Chairman of the Management Board of the GWH Group, was involved in the development of the earlier format and is now a member of the presidium of NEW bauhaus. He stated that the challenges in the areas of housing, urban development and portfolio management can no longer be solved within individual disciplines. The approach of NEW bauhaus is convincing because the festival brings together actors who often operate in different systems in their daily work, but whose decisions are directly interconnected. Such a dialogue is essential for the sustainable shaping of the built environment.
Background and Activities of the GWH Group
GWH was founded in 1924. Currently, over 120,000 people live in the company's apartments, whose portfolio extends geographically between Hannover and Karlsruhe, as well as Dresden and Neuss. In addition to portfolio management and development, GWH is active in other business areas, including as a property developer, project developer, real estate trader, real estate-related service provider and fund house. With approximately 650 employees, the company is one of the key players in the German housing industry. An example of this is the GWH-HessenHaus, an innovative and cost-optimised standardised new build concept developed by GWH Wohnungsgesellschaft to promote housing construction in Hesse.
For NEW bauhaus, the partnership with GWH represents a further strengthening of its interdisciplinary approach. The festival aims to lead the discussion about the future of the built environment beyond traditional industry boundaries and to combine economic, social, cultural, and technological perspectives. Michael Rücker, Festival Director of NEW bauhaus, emphasised that with GWH, a company is engaging that daily assumes responsibility for living space and thus for a central component of the built environment. This perspective is of significant importance for NEW bauhaus, as the festival does not only address buildings or projects, but the question of how people will live, reside, and come together in the future.
Aims and Relevance of the Festival
The programme of NEW bauhaus includes diverse formats such as lectures, discussions, workshops, exhibitions, and various networking events. The aim is to open up new perspectives for the development of cities, neighbourhoods, buildings, and living spaces and to bring together actors who do not usually interact in this way. Michael Kynast, Managing Director of Messe Erfurt, explained that NEW bauhaus thrives on strong partners who are willing to actively contribute to the discourse. GWH stands for long-term responsibility, for the development of housing, and for a practical view of current challenges. The company's renewed commitment underscores the growing importance of the festival beyond the borders of Thuringia.
