The “Living Room” – A New Spot in the Neighborhood
Right in the heart of downtown Augsburg, there was a vacant space owned by the Barfüßerkirche—located on a heavily trafficked route between downtown and the Fuggerei, traversed daily by tourists as well as residents on their way to work or to run errands.
This space was transformed into the neighborhood’s “Stube”: an open place for meeting, exchanging ideas, and learning together.
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Design and Implementation
Under the guidance of Professor Katinka Temme, students in the Identity Design master program developed initial usage concepts and a visual identity for the Stube. At the same time, the space was structurally renovated in collaboration with architecture students. Initial workshops and events were held concurrently. In regular networking meetings with municipal partners, organizational and structural frameworks were also tested and further developed.
In the current summer semester of 2026, the Stube is being established as a “third place” and is actively used by the Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg as a learning space and real-world laboratory. A master’s studio is dedicated to revitalizing other vacant spaces in the city and regularly uses the Stube as a place for work, exchange, and presentations. In addition, an interdisciplinary seminar is developing workshop formats for students of all disciplines as well as for the neighborhood. A digital workshop taught people of all ages various simulation and visualization methods.
Living Room
Even during the pre-Christmas season, the Stube hosted a wide variety of events: from workshops on Japanese thread stitching to exhibitions on Nazi architecture, as well as presentations of first-semester projects such as the “gingerbread houses” and other design projects.
In addition, the Stube offered students the opportunity to get involved in participatory processes and neighborhood discussions—for example, as part of the Downtown Dialogue—and to actively engage with issues related to urban development policy.
Open Program for Urban Society
Even during the pre-Christmas season, the Stube hosted a wide variety of events: from workshops on Japanese thread stitching to exhibitions on Nazi architecture, as well as presentations of first-semester projects such as the “gingerbread houses” and other design projects.
In addition, the Stube offered students the opportunity to get involved in participatory processes and neighborhood discussions—such as those held as part of the “Inner City Dialogue”—and to actively engage with issues related to urban development policy.
More exhibitions and events will take place in the coming weeks. Up-to-date information and opportunities to get involved—from quiz nights, public viewings, and reading evenings to IT and technology workshops—can be found on Instagram at @tha_stube and on the official Stube website.
Added Value for the University and the City
In addition, the Stube is used by other members of the city’s community, resulting in a diverse and open program.
For the university, the Stube serves as a high-visibility showcase in a central location. Here, students gain practical experience through interdisciplinary projects and social engagement, presenting themselves as committed designers of future urban development. At the same time, the architecture program demonstrates a sustainable repurposing strategy and gains a central learning and exhibition space within an urban context.