Isabel Strauss Wins Bauhaus Bathroom Design Competition for Gropius House

Historic New England announced Isabel Strauss, an architectural designer and assistant professor at Smith College in Northampton, Mass., as the winner of the 'Bauhaus Bathroom' competition for the Gropius House in Lincoln, Mass. The competition, launched in November 2025, sought a permanent restroom solution to replace the portable toilet that had greeted visitors for decades at the 1938 modernist icon designed by Walter Gropius. Over 280 proposals from 40 countries were submitted, reflecting reverence for Gropius and Marcel Breuer. The competition was underwritten by trustee Allen Kolkowitz, who remarked, 'We can do better.' Strauss, 35, lives just 30 minutes from the site. Her design aims to align with Bauhaus principles of functional design and experimental materials. The Gropius House, a National Historic Landmark, was built when Gropius joined the Harvard Graduate School of Design faculty. Historic New England president Vin Cipolla and Kolkowitz initiated the project after observing the inadequate facilities.