STARS EU: An intercultural pavilion for a European campus

Hochschule Bremen – University of Applied Sciences. (HBS) , partner of STARS EU Alliance, is collaborating with eight European universities to create a European university. An international group of students from HSB and HfK Bremen developed ideas for this goal in the joint project ‘Interspace’, including an intercultural pavilion, a mobile research laboratory, and a transnational festival.

In eight groups, 35 students presented their ideas through models, drawings, installations, and artistic approaches. Three projects were awarded prizes by a six-member jury from HSB and partner universities in Spain and Poland. One further project received special mention. The event, Interspace O(ut)er Campus, took place on 8 July 2025 at Hochschule Bremen.

First Prize: ‘UNI.KIT – Out of the box’

An intercultural pavilion made of regional wood, featuring a standardised design, digital info screens, and modular elements sent to each STARS EU campus. It serves as a space for exchange and events. The group of winners is composed by Derya Kuziak, Marlene Laurösch, Jalina Oetjen and Amon Osterkamp.

Second Prize: ‘CLA!M THE CAMPUS – Just do it’

Reactivation of underused campus spaces using mobile furniture designed by students. Bremen campus areas were temporarily equipped with tables, chairs, and ping-pong tables. The furniture is lightweight and easy to transport. The award went to: Pia Burghardt, Nora Constantin, Hannes Mehrtens, Lennart Mönnekes, Johanna Nolte, Alessa Padberg, Julia Redmann and Fiona Sanneh.

Third Prize: ‘CAMPUS AURA – The sense of campus’

Interactive screen on each campus showing colour elements reflecting the community’s emotional state: light for positive, dark for negative. Based on regular surveys, it visualises the often-invisible campus atmosphere. The third winners: Jonas Bultmann, Hannah Christoffers, Jana zum Felde and Federico Pazzaglia.

Special Mention: ‘STARS of Europe FESTIVAL’

Annual cultural festival rotating among the alliance universities, featuring live and digital events on themes such as sustainability or inclusion. It will culminate in Brussels in its tenth year.
Group: Alina Tschernova, Justine Kremming, Martina Rubbini and Raquel de Carvalho Frade.

INVISIBLE INBETWEEN – STARS EU CONNECTION.HUB

 Colourful, multifunctional cubes used as seats, tables, or play surfaces, accompanied by a transparent LED wall sharing real-time visuals between campuses.
Group: Vivienne Gerlach, Semanur Gezer, Rim Ramadan and Janine Sibbing.

‘RETHINK CAMPUS – shaped by students, shared by all’

 Teaching and learning programme turning the campus into a real-world lab. Students work collaboratively across disciplines in a five-year process. A physical hub called “Baubude” serves as an open studio for future projects. The winner gropu was composed by Sherin Issa, Celine Penniggers, Finja Ruschmeyer, Katerin Jaramillo Motoche and Guillermo Ruiz Benítez de Lugo Pérez.

STARS EU Multitool

Interdisciplinary seminar and app to connect regional topics across Europe. Each semester, a locally relevant theme is explored collectively by the nine universities.
Group: Sherin Issa, Celine Penniggers, Finja Ruschmeyer, Katerin Jaramillo Motoche, Guillermo Ruiz Benítez de Lugo Pérez, Julia Tecklenborg, Gabriel Wirthwein and Ruby Zakrzewska.

 Mobile research laboratory ‘Real.Space.Lab’

A modular, lightweight, and mobile lab adaptable to various environments. Designed for knowledge exchange between universities and local actors, it enables experimental, site-specific learning.
Group: Tim Josephi, Pauline Stey, Luca Weers, Finn Herzog and Emil Ackmann.

Outlook: Further development as a European teaching format

Professor Ulrike Mansfeld, from the School of Architecture, states that the project will continue in 2026 at the European level. The experience will serve as a basis for long-term, institutionally embedded development of a co-creation campus that meets student needs across disciplines and borders.

Thanks to all the people who were involved in the project in the summer semester and contributed to the organisation with great commitment. To the team at HSB and HfK Bremen, with professors Ulrike Mansfeld (HSB; Maria Clarke (HSB); Claudia Kromrei (HSB); Katrin Winkler (HSB); Janina Ebner (HfK Bremen / HSB STARS EU); Detlef Rahe (HfK Bremen) and Falk von Zobeltitz (HfK Bremen).

And thanks to the jury, composed of: Ercole Erculei (HSB / STARS EU); Rima Dijkstra (STARS EU, Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen); Kinga Racon-Leja (Cracow University of Technology, Poland / STARS EU); Cintia Hernández Sánchez (Universidad de La Laguna, Spain / STARS EU); Fabian Perdigón Haller (Universidad de La Laguna, Spain / Studyboard STARS EU); Matthis Gericke (HSB) and Celine Schmidt (HfK Bremen).