As part of the project Green Hem project, we collaborated with Toni Züchner, project manager of Kulturfabrik e.V. in Hoyerswerda, in June/July 2024. The aim of the project was to create a circular route through Hoyerswerda with various stations to create connections within the city.
A central component of the project was the redesign of an unused transit area created by the demolition of numerous prefabricated buildings. In close cooperation with young people, we selected this area, an unused trough between schools, as a suitable place to start an open and participatory design process. The main idea was to create a place for encounters, retreat and creative use.
The planning process began with a design workshop in which the young people first took a walk to explore the space, followed by a needs analysis. Initial model buildings served as the basis for the subsequent construction planning. Particular attention was paid to creating a place of retreat that is both easily accessible and visible. The desire was also expressed to create niches so that different youth groups could use the space in parallel.
A central element of the design was the repurposing of discarded lattice boxes, which were put together to form a terraced, stepped seating and lounging deck. The lattice boxes could be flexibly placed next to each other or stacked on top of each other. This modular system enables sustainable adaptation to local requirements and can be easily developed further. To make the space weatherproof, a lightweight roof construction consisting of three uprights and a textile surface was integrated, which serves as rain protection.
The structural implementation of the design took place as part of a four-day design-build workshop, in which the young people themselves lent a hand and actively helped to shape the space. The result is an innovative space that serves as a meeting place and retreat and can be flexibly adapted to the requirements of its users.
