The portable toilet next to the original Gropius House garage, which has been repurposed as a visitor center. (Photo courtesy Kubany LLC)
Historic New England has launched an international design competition to “reimagine the arrival experience” at Lincoln’s Gropius House. Coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Bauhaus Dessau, the competition invites proposals for a permanent public restroom and redesigned visitor center.
Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus and one of the most influential architects of the 20th century, designed the house as his family residence while teaching at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Completed in 1938, he intended the house to serve as both a private residence and a teaching tool, illustrating Bauhaus principles of functional design and the integration of architecture with the surrounding landscape. In 1979, Gropius’s widow Ise donated the home, complete with original furnishings, artwork, and personal belongings, to Historic New England. Gropius House opened to the public in 1984 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2000. In the years since, it has become one of the most visited sites under Historic New England’s stewardship.
One problem for the thousands of people that visit each year, though — calls of nature require a visit to a portable toilet next to the house’s original garage, which is now used as a visitor center. The competition participants are invited to propose “creative, contextually sensitive solutions that integrate seamlessly with the site and architecture, while enhancing visitors’ sense of arrival and connection to the landscape.”
In keeping with Gropius’s design philosophy, entrants are encouraged to “experiment with new materials, technologies, and ideas that challenge conventional design thinking.” The competition encourages interdisciplinary teams that may include architects, landscape architects, graphic designers, industrial designers, and other professionals.
There are two parallel competitions, one for practicing design professionals and another for architecture and design students. Submissions will be reviewed by a jury of academic architects, curators, and architecture critics. Winners will receive a cash prize, as well as inclusion in the Gropius House archives and an exhibition at the property. The submission deadline is Feb. 6, 2026, with winners announced on March 27. For submission requirements and additional details, visit gropiuscompetition.info.
This is an edited version of a press release from Kubany LLC and Historic New England.
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