Implementation of New European Bauhaus Ideas in a Housing Environment on the Example of a Refugee Settlement Concept in Lviv

This paper describes an attempt to implement the New European Bauhaus (NEB) principles, using the design of a modular housing estate in Lviv for refugees from war zones as an example. The study, conducted using the Research by Design method, found that the analysed housing complex aligns with the four thematic axes of the NEB: ‘reconnecting with nature,’ ‘regaining a sense of belonging,’ ‘prioritizing the places and people that need it the most,’ and ‘the need for long-term, life cycle thinking in the industrial ecosystem.’ This alignment was observed at all three scales: the entire housing estate, the quarter, and the individual housing segment. In the description of the thematic axes, the three core values of the NEB – beauty, sustainability, and togetherness – were addressed unevenly. Specifically, aesthetic considerations received marginal treatment compared to natural and social issues.