New youth club for Cottbus-Sandow

On November 30, BTU Master's students presented their designs for a self-managed youth club for the Sandow district at the end of an "impromptu" module in the Chair of Design and Construction.

The demand from young people in Sandow for a self-managed youth club aroused the interest of students and lecturers at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. Together with the youth initiative "Engagierte Jugend Sandow" (EJS), the architecture group Con³ and Faculty 6 of BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg initiated a cooperation project. This winter semester, models for the new youth club in the Sandow district were created in an impromptu module for Master's students, which involves the condensed and concentrated development of a preliminary design.

The young people from the EJS actively took part in several workshops and shared their needs and ideas. In a direct exchange between students and young people, characteristic parameters were defined that are decisive for the creation of a design sketch. The aim was to create an attractive place for young people that not only improves the quality of life for young people in the district, but also emphasizes diversity, culture and respect. The focus was on functionality, practical feasibility, flexible usage structures and strengthening the community. The young people were therefore able to incorporate their ideas directly into the design, while the architecture students contributed their specialist knowledge.

The result was four different designs and models, all of which received great feedback. However, one design particularly struck a chord with the young people: A modular longhouse in timber frame construction, which allows the rooms to be flexibly divided and used according to the young people's wishes. The fact that it could be started with little effort and that the building could be easily expanded with modular extensions was particularly convincing.

A first round of discussions between the EJS and representatives of the city administration on the requirements and possibilities for the creation of a self-managed youth club has already taken place. A further meeting is planned for December.

Contact us

Josefine Kahle
Kommunikation und Marketing
T +49 (0) 355 69-2215
josefine.kahle(at)b-tu.de
On November 30, BTU Master's students presented their designs for a self-managed youth club for the Sandow district at the end of an "impromptu" module in the Chair of Urban Design. In addition to Engagierte Jugend Sandow (EJS), representatives from the youth welfare office, the real estate office and Deutsche Stadt- und Grundstücksentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH took part in the final presentation, as well as the children and youth officer of the city of Cottbus.
More than 40 students enrolled in the "Sandow Youth Club" module and, in collaboration with the EJS, developed numerous models of what such a youth club could look like in just a few weeks.
The young people from the EYL actively participated in several workshops and shared their needs and ideas.
The young people were able to incorporate their ideas directly into the design, while the architecture students contributed their expertise.
One design in particular struck a chord with the young people: A modular longhouse in timber frame construction, which allows the rooms to be flexibly divided and used according to the wishes of the young people.
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