The Ideas Island Project at Hubland North

For many years, students and staff have been telling us that there are few, if any, outdoor spaces to relax or sit in the Hubland Nord campus area. This issue has become particularly apparent during the COVID-19 crisis. Following a decision by its executive committee in 2022, the University of Würzburg Alumni Association has therefore set itself the task of improving this situation, ensuring not only the use of sustainable materials but also sustainable communication from the outset. Against this backdrop, stakeholder groups involved in sustainability initiatives at the University of Würzburg – such as the student's representation, WueLab, the Healthy University initiative, the Botanical Garden, the Campus Garden, the REKLINEU project, etc. – were involved in developing ideas.

Idea and Vision

The ‘Ideas Island’ is intended to create an open space for inspiration and exchange for students, staff, alumni and researchers in a central location on the Hubland site – easily accessible from both the Hubland South campus and the Philosophy Centre – next to the Mensateria. The space is to be shaded and bring people together across faculty boundaries. The vision of those involved is that, regardless of level of knowledge, discipline, age or career stage, people can freely exchange ideas outdoors in the shade of the large sun sail and the (still-growing) trees. The aim is also to encourage the discussion of creative ideas that go beyond the norm, addressing pressing societal and interdisciplinary challenges such as climate, nature and conflict resolution strategies, etc. In planning the ‘Island of Ideas’, the aim is to interfere with nature as little as possible, or indeed to enhance it. Sealed surfaces are avoided as far as possible and are used only for the ‘inclusion areas’.

Alongside the small ‘open-air forum’, three group work tables are designed to encourage subject-specific or interdisciplinary group work, enabling students to discuss, work or plan in small groups.

Through carefully planned planting and the introduction of trees, the meadow is to be sustainably enriched once again with appropriate organisms. Expertise from various disciplines is to be incorporated into the project; the involvement of the geography department, for example, enables soil samples to be taken and analysed, with the results influencing, amongst other things, the selection of plants and trees. However, the specialist contributions of the stakeholders also generate learning outcomes that are to be made accessible to visitors and users. For instance, an interactive information board will provide details on the rock and soil composition at Hubland; a QR code will allow users to access data from the weather station located at Hubland; and information will be provided on the Sustainable Campus/REKLINEU project and its development. In collaboration with WueLab, hands-on activities involving students, staff and alumni will invite participants to get involved in shaping the ‘Ideas Island’ themselves, thereby engaging with the topic of sustainability through teamwork.

Within the project itself, in collaboration with the State Building Authority, materials from past projects will be incorporated, reused and further developed – for example, by adding sustainable seating and group work tables. All materials must meet the requirement of being long-lasting and durable.

The financial challenge is considerable, as durable materials come at a corresponding cost. The Alumni Association is investing around 50,000 euros of its own funds in the sun sail and has taken on the task of securing financial support from the university, as well as seeking sponsors for furniture and other project elements. To date, sponsorships totalling around 80,000 euros have been secured.