Bachelor Design Studio: Fabric.Change: Hand.Craft.City – The new cloth factory
As part of the Urban Mining Student Award 2025/26, we are looking for visionary ideas for the sustainable reuse of existing buildings in German cities—both in terms of urban densification and the preservation of valuable architectural heritage. The Faculty of Architecture at KIT has already won this competition four times in recent years, and we are once again eager to take on the challenge this year.
This year’s focus is on the respectful transformation and circular renovation of a historic industrial site: the former textile factory Hardt & Pocorny in Radevormwald near Wuppertal. The goal is to develop a creative and forward-looking concept for the sustainable reuse of historic structures—an increasingly relevant task in the years to come. The competition calls to develop spatial and organizational synergies and innovative living space concepts through intergenerational living, commercial uses, and the integration of a training center for skilled trades. The goal is to create a place where people can live and work in close proximity, while also providing new momentum for a revival of craftsmanship. The design process should address the following key questions: How can a residential area be designed to be functionally flexible, support diverse lifestyles, and offer high-quality outdoor spaces? How can vocational training centers for skilled trades be integrated into everyday life and become a vibrant part of the neighborhood? And how can all of this be planned in a sustainable and future-oriented way?
The goal is to develop a viable concept that unites ecological, social, and economic aspects into a coherent and forward-thinking overall strategy.
Support: Lisa Behringer, Fanny Kaiser Hirt
Wednesdays and Thursdays in the Studio
First Meeting: 29.10.2025, 2:00 PM in the studio
Excursion: 14-16 November
Pin-Up: 10.12.2025
Submission: 23.02.2026
Presentation: 24.02.2026
