BAUHAUS4EU Photo Contest

Students from the ten BAUHAUS4EU universities and one associated partner from Ukraine turned their lenses to their study surroundings to reveal the invisible forces behind the obvious.

The stories disclose what touches students' souls, what excites, sustains, creates a sense of belonging and motivates them to continue on their (often strenuous) path to unlocking their potential, fitting into or struggling with the community, and overcoming the challenges they face.

Surprisingly or not, music appears to be one of the connectors of students with the rhythm of university life. Whether you can hear it or it's just represented by a piano, it overcomes barriers across disciplines, cultures, borders and life situations, and is a true symbol of beauty, inclusion, and resilience. Music serves as a shelter or as an invitation for individuals to meet, express themselves, stay strong and can transform an ordinary location into a shared experience.

Light is another symbol and emotional anchor for students – whether it is the sunset falling softly over the wooden façade of the campus, the bright study hall, the astounding shades of the sky or the sun rays penetrating through the glass, it evokes freedom of mind, insights, tranquility, reflection and can serve as a minute refuge from the demanding student life.

Living nature in photographs is the connection between the “inside” and “outside” world, sometimes unnoticeable, yet persistent force shaping one’s feelings, relating people to their surroundings and making the campuses like a welcoming home - a true sense of belonging and beauty. Whether it appears as a sole plant, sea at sunset, glowing green beyond the window, landscape views or cats (as the “soul” of the campus), nature continues its rhythm even when life in the university feels suspended or tense.

Deliberate or not, human behaviors are much more noticeable and fill each location with different meanings. This could be by simply sharing a desk at the library, small gestures with deep meaning, studying together, debating, gathering at a specific “students’ spot”, playing an instrument or protesting. In many photographs, these actions transform ordinary places into ones of creativity, solidarity, connection and resilience. They show that built and living environment gain significance through the ways people inhabit and respond to them.

The elements of the built environment across the photographs also frame the stories of belonging, sustainability and resilience. Bridges, terraces, staircases, domes, and glass walls often serve as metaphors for the relationship between people and their university campuses. Bridges unite, windows suspend nature in fragments, staircases lead to a better future, and terraces maintain their purpose despite the relentless passage of time. Buildings and architectural elements do more than define space, they are more than silent witnesses, reinforcing themes of openness, continuity, and the shared ground on which campus communities form.

Shot in different cultures and contexts, all the finalist photographs carry a common message: our universities are vibrant and resilient environments, connecting lives and minds, arts, nature and material objects in (un)ordinary, but beautiful ways. These images already succeed in their aim by inviting us to contemplate, to see each other, to feel ourselves part of something bigger than our own selves.

The winners of the photo contest will be announced on December 8th. Take a look at the photographs below.