© Niklas Krings

To kick off the project, we discussed together: How can we generate a community on campus and perhaps beyond? How do we create attractive and flexible places for exchange, meeting, learning and working? How can active participation transform a community? The ideas and suggestions collected were incorporated into the designs. Topics that were important were diversity and inclusion, sustainability, and the external image of the TUD.

© Louis Kohaupt

During the Sustainability Week in June 2023, 60 stools were built collectively in the "Claiming Campus" pop-up workshop in front of the Old Refectory to create more places of (international) exchange on campus. The workshop was embedded in the tuuwi's "Car-Free Campus" campaign and open to all university members.
In his stool design, designer Jonathan Radetz incorporated the ideas of inclusivity, sustainability and flexibility agreed with TUD members. The result was seating made of local larch with variable seat heights that can wander around the campus and "survive" outside.
Making an entire piece of furniture ourselves is something most of us don't get to do every day! The excitement of having created something of our own, and being able to make a difference on campus ourselves, was therefore great. Most of the building was done in teams, which created community, enabled participation and ensured exchange between the most diverse members of the university.

The builders individualised their stool with the three-word address of their favourite place on campus and then distributed them around the campus, where they can now serve as places to meet and exchange. In this way, places on campus can also be identified where people like to be and where more opportunities to meet are desired. Places and ideas for a livelier, more attractive campus can continue to be collected in the Menitmeter.

The pop-up workshop was made possible by a wide range of cooperation partners. Many thanks to: Chair of Technical Design, Campus Design Master Plan, Diversity Management, Corporate Design, Building Management, Faculty of Education.

© Katharina Schmitt

On the second day of the pop-up workshop, the dialogue on our campus and its qualities was continued in a workshop discussion. This opened up a space that brings together people with interests and responsibilities in campus design and use. How can our campus become even more international, more communal, more vibrant? What can each and every one of us do to make this happen? - because stools alone are not enough.

© Louis Kohaupt

On 04.09.2023, three stools from the "Claiming Campus" campaign were allowed to take a trip to the Augustusbrücke for the "Dresden is(s)t bunt" guest banquet. We had conversation starters with us on the topic of "Arriving and feeling like you belong". From 4pm to 8pm, many people sat down on the stools and talked about what it means to them to arrive in a place. The topic of places for open exchange came up again and again. We are pleased that the stools are helping to create such places on the TUD campus and are continuing to pursue this idea!

All information on the Guest Supper 2023: https://www.cellex-stiftung.org/de/projekte/gastmahl/2023

© Lissy Flechsig

The 60 stools built in June 23 are a good start, but for real flexibility and enough meeting places on campus we need even more stools. That's why Claiming Campus went into the second round in the first week of October. Together they drilled and hammered again and did some real team building. A total of 200 stools are now on the move on campus and serve all university members as places for intensive exchange or relaxed get-togethers. On your marks, get set ... Occupy the campus!

On 29.11.23, we evaluated the past project days with our fellow campaigners and established what we have achieved so far and what is still missing.

The next day, we met with committed people to discuss. What does it take to make engagement visible on campus? How do international students find access to the programmes?