A network of knowledge.

Challenge

The city of Bochum tendered in a public competition by invitation only the concept-of-use and the interior design of the "Haus des Wissens (House of Knowledge)". In an inner city location, a space for social education will be created offering a wide variety of modules...a third place as a platform for knowledge and participation in constant change.

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Our approach for a "House of Knowledge

We see the "Haus Des Wissens" in the context of a new and integrated urban development. A vivid space of democracy and participation that is quickly and spontaneously accessible to all citizens (15min city). Mutual collaboration emphasises interpersonal relations and generates empathy. The combination of science, culture and a “togetherness” in general are the building blocks of future stories that are told and created at the “Haus des Wissens”.

We see this building as a place where people meet and exchange - it is about spending “meaningful” time together.

In recent years disruptives changes have affected our everyday lives, visible in a shift of daily routines, maneuvering the "online and offline", that increasingly interconnect. Our interior design of the “Haus des Wissens” takes this into consideration and focuses on the in-between-spaces and spatial transitions. Our everyday life no longer shows clear lines between "work", office and school on the one side and the private on the other, but rather a diverse mix of various locations, such as coworking spaces, commuting, home office, etc. - thus a “third space” is increasingly gaining importance in our everyday life.

Therefore, we see the "Haus Des Wissen" as an opportunity that opens up for these new forms of togetherness...

Idea & Concept


The basic idea of our concept is participation and the exchange of knowledge.

In an increasingly digital world, we create an interior that on the one hand supports learning and further education through new media, but also consciously promotes the analogue exchange between people and emphasises the opportunity to meet each other. Random encounters and the unexpected, as well as spontaneous exchanges, play a central role. In order to deliberately provoke these situations, we design a network of in-between-spaces, our "knowledge dots". These "knowledge dots" are strategically arranged throughout the building. Due to their flexible design they allow for various uses - an individual retreat for reading a book or the matching teamwork environment. What all "Knowledge Dots" ultimately have in common is the transfer of "knowledge" and the opportunity to exchange ideas with one another.

An unexpected and unconventional design promotes a change of perspective and does justice to the claim of the "House of Knowledge"...

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‍Impact
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2nd place of five invited studios.