Amid the agricultural fields of the organic Lindenbrunnenhof farm in Forchheim am Kaiserstuhl, an educational space for circular building culture has been created over the past few months. Architects for Future’s action days marked the launch of the HUB:itat program.
Here, everything revolves around ecological, healthy, and circular building culture—up close, hands-on, and open to everyone. The HUB:itat sees itself as a space for experiences and possibilities for people of all ages. This is a place to build, research, and create. It is a place for connection and exchange, because in our understanding, building culture and relationship culture are inseparable.
The program is explicitly aimed at children and young people as well, offering them a platform to share and contribute their ideas, wishes, and thoughts on the subject.
Our visitors ranged in age from 0 to 92. They came with many different interests —
- they were curious,
- they brought many different questions with them,
- they wanted to learn how ecological building works,
- they wanted to try things out for themselves,
- they wanted to learn what is specifically being created here at Lindenbrunnenhof,
- they wanted to create opportunities for their children to have vibrant, close-to-nature experiences,
- they wished for fairer structures in this world.
Here at Lindenbrunnenhof, we have made a start—
we showed you how we can make excavated clay from different locations usable for building, exploring its distinct properties up close, and how we need to adapt the clay to the intended use,
we adapted the properties of HD straw bales so that we could use them as building straw, turning them into a wonderful climate-positive insulation material that can protect us from both the cold and the heat,
we were able to experience the effects of climate change firsthand using building straw as an example,
we demonstrated various techniques for constructing structures with clay and straw,
we showed you what to look out for when insulating with straw bales, and you were able to plaster your first surfaces with clay plaster made from clay excavated on-site,
you played with homemade clay paint and pigments, Dorodango balls were created, we got to know one another a little, had the opportunity to talk with our hosts at Lindenbrunnenhof about the challenges they face in agriculture, enjoyed ripe melons from the neighboring fields, and had a wonderful time together.
Now we look forward to everything else that will be created here together with you in the future.
Because this was only the beginning!
Thank you for your different perspectives on the action days you experienced [galleries].
This way to the [website]
Alle NEWS here on Instagram
After two amazing days working on Carolin’s construction project, I not only learned a ton but am also leaving the weekend with so much positive energy and warmth in my heart. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity to learn about straw-bale and earthen construction here—not only in theory, but especially through hands-on experience—and to learn so many fascinating things. We hope that in the future, not only the project but also the method in general will receive more support.
Great idea!
Spent two wonderful, eventful days with amazing people; discovered interesting possibilities for sustainable building and got hands-on experience myself. I had an incredible time, and it broadened my horizons considerably. My hat is off to Carolin!
It was fun!