Research
We don’t research in labs. We research in everyday life.
Overview
We combine practice with research. We test ideas, build prototypes, and create spaces where new things can emerge. Instead of classic studies, we work hands-on: research means translating ideas directly into usable prototypes. Open, iterative, and results-driven.
Dessau Magazin
A participatory event calendar for an entire city
In 2024, we built Dessau Magazin as part of the Summer of Pioneers Dessau-Roßlau program. A participatory event calendar that makes the city’s diverse offerings visible — carried by local associations, cultural creators, and citizens. The goal: bundle activities, connect the city, and present Dessau beyond the region. Concept, web design, web development.
CU.Office Berlin
How coworking can work sustainably
CU.Office Berlin is our contribution to sustainable office and neighborhood development. Coworking as a common-good practice: workspaces for many, at low cost, with minimal resource consumption. Built from repurposed vacant spaces, run on upcycling, second-hand furniture, and renewable energy. A model for future, minimalist work environments.
CU.Box
A participation platform for communities
CU.Box is a spin-off of the participation platform “Sandkasten Selfmade Campus” developed at TU Braunschweig. A tool for digital participation — currently being tested at a daycare center. The idea: make participation accessible for neighborhoods, housing projects, and community spaces.
Approach
Concept, prototype, discard or scale
We show projects that are still in development — ideas we test, continue, or consciously end. Research for us is not academic. It’s practical, community-driven, and always tied to real needs. Together with communities and organizations, openly and iteratively.
Sustainability
Minimal waste, upcycling, renewable energy. Built into how we work.
Participation
Tools and formats that give people a voice in their communities.
Prototyping
Test early, learn fast. Build what works, stop what doesn’t.
Urban Development
Spaces in cities, for as many as possible, at as little cost as necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Applied research at the intersection of digitalization and urban development. We build prototypes, test concepts, and work with real communities.
No. We combine practical work with research methods. Ruben Heppner studied urban and regional management and researched at TU Braunschweig from 2018 to 2020.
The project was not extended. The prototype was discontinued, but the learnings feed into future work.
A participation platform developed at TU Braunschweig, now being tested in other contexts like daycare centers and housing projects.
Yes. If you’re working on urban development, participation, or sustainable spaces, reach out. We’re open to partnerships.
Through project-based funding, partnerships, and our own initiative. No investors, no external pressure.
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