OpenCultures

OpenFactory

Design Build Approaches

How can the design of buildings support climate-sensitive ways of urban living?

OpenFactory is to create a space for shared discourse across scientific, academic and public audiences, which is — at the same time — an open-source workshop as well as a meeting point for events, neighbourhood gatherings, work meetings and participatory actions.

As a “Reallabor”,the structure is envisaged as a place of possibilities: demonstrating the substantial potential of existing buildings for reuse, critically assessing pursuits of “completion” as an outdated concept, calling into question currently existing concepts of comfort, as well as conventional constructive and technical measures for realized existing buildings.

The OpenFactory will not only become a physical location, but also a Living Lab — a space of and for transdisciplinary experimentation — which will work with students and community groups and pursue research on simple and robust structures, as well as resource-efficient materials.

Contact person

Svante Kerstingjohänner
research assistant at Institute for Building Climatology and Energy of Architecture Technische Universität Braunschweig

Blog

All
  • Reed bedReed bed

    OpenCultures at Campus North – Opening of the Temporary Climate Garden

    The reed garden was set up in mid-April

    2 min. Reading time
  • Zine02Zine02

    OpenImaginaries Zine 02 - "Resilienz as Governance"

    A progress report from the OpenCultures Climate and Future Lab on resilience as governance

    1 min. Reading time
  • Annual report OpenCulturesAnnual report OpenCultures

    OpenCultures publishes annual report for 2025

    The 2025 annual report from OpenCultures shows how interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research is opening up new perspectives for climate-friendly urban design.

    1 min. Reading time