In cooperation with the StudyScouts from the Hochschule vor Ort, 20 eighth-graders from Anne-Frank-Gesamtschule explored the world of architecture during a project week. The students developed miniature models for Mehmet-Kubaşik-Platz in the Fachhochschule Dortmund workshops with their own redesign ideas.
From campus tours and online consultation hours to workshops in schools: The StudyScouts' wide range of offers are aimed at young talents from Dortmund's Nordstadt district. As students at the university of applied sciences, they provide practical insights into the courses on offer(Opens in a new tab) at eye level.
From theory to practice
To kick off the project week, the pupils explored urban planning and architectural theories under the guidance of the StudyScouts. In the immediate vicinity of the Anne Frank Comprehensive School, the pupils had the opportunity to explore the many facets of Mehmet-Kubaşik-Platz. Whether shady trees or more play equipment for children: the pupils showed a wealth of ideas when brainstorming how to improve the square.
Over the course of the week, they then created architectural models showing the redesigned Mehmet Kubaşik Square. Instead of their own classroom, the students visited different locations of the university, always in combination with a guided tour - and always with the task of getting hands-on themselves.
From 2D drawing to 3D modeling
On their way to creating their own model, the students stopped off at the Faculty of Architecture at Emil-Figge-Straße 40. In a taster course, the students got to grips with the basics of 2D drawing using special CAD software. They used it to design a site plan of Mehmet-Kubaşik-Platz, which was cut out and engraved using a laser cutter in the department's own model-making workshop. The site plan then served as the urban planning model base plate.
The journey is the reward - even when developing the models. The FabLab at Sonnenstraße 96 invited the pupils to create 3D models of small trees, bushes, lanterns and benches. The constructions were made using the 3D printers available there. As an open workshop, the FabLab also gives private individuals access to modern manufacturing techniques.
From thought construct to architectural model
In the middle of Nordstadt: at the Hochschule vor Ort, which is located at Bornstraße 142 not far from Mehmet-Kubaşik-Platz, the students combined their previous experiences under the guidance of the StudyScouts. Based on the site plan from the model workshop, they designed models in small groups, on which the specially created greenery from the 3D printer was placed instead of gravel and grit. The pupils proudly presented their results on the last day of the project week in the auditorium of the Anne Frank Comprehensive School.
With fingertip-sized trees and benches from the 3D printer, architecture became both tangible and understandable for the pupils.