In the former tin works Am Veringhof in Wilhelmsburg, a successful creative center has been growing for a good 10 years, which we regularly support with our paint products, among other things, in the implementation of diverse projects within the framework of neighborhood assistance. This cooperation resulted in the participation in an exciting project for one of our dual students of industrial engineering in the summer.

During a two-week summer school, around 20 students from the fields of architecture, design and engineering developed creative concepts for bicycle parking facilities in Hamburg and built two prototypes. Great ideas emerged to make sustainable mobility by bike even more attractive.

For our trainees and dual students, projects like these are a great way to develop their talent in interdisciplinary collaboration and customer contact, as well as to gain new experience and expand networks.

We asked our dual student: What was the goal of the RADHaus project for you?

It's about creating a parking facility for bicycles, from the point of view of Industry 4.0, so the station should be smart, environmentally conscious and flexible.

What did you experience during the two weeks of the project?

In the first week, we first met digitally in five groups and worked out various ideas. We were asked to think as innovatively and big as possible while remaining realistic. This phase was accompanied by helpful lectures and discussions by and with experts who have something to do with the topic of bicycles. On Saturday, all organizers and participants then voted on which concept would be implemented by which group in the form of a prototype. In the second week we built the two selected models on site at the Zinnwerke. Among other things, material was used that came from the demolition of a factory building. Part of the group took care of issues such as the design of an operator model and public relations. On Sunday, the results were presented to a representative of the transport authority and the sponsors - we are curious to see if and when our concepts can be found in a similar form in Hamburg.

What did your team focus on during the first week of brainstorming?

My group's input from the first week literally made them think "out of the box," since a box for us means privatizing public space. It was important to us that all people could park their bikes safely and free of charge in Hamburg. After many intensive discussions, our team came up with the "Corral" model - a mobile trailer that can be seen from all sides and is secured by a special system. Additional strong LEDs on a motion detector make it difficult to steal a bike unnoticed. "Corral" offers space for up to nine bikes and can be used completely free of charge.

And which idea won the race in the end?

Among a selection of many creative and exciting ideas, the group ultimately chose the bike park and the triangular box. The bike park offers the possibility to make the roof of the bike park accessible and to use the roof area creatively. The triangle box impresses with its efficiency. It provides space for two bicycles inside and two bicycles on the roof. Four boxes fit on one car parking space, so up to 16 bikes can be stored on one parking space.

Your conclusion?

In conclusion, I can say about the project that it is very impressive what Martha Starke and Beate Kapfenberger have brought to life with their EX_KURS. It was great to experience so directly how a new product emerges from a theoretical idea. For me it was two exhausting, but also exciting, creative and varied weeks and I can recommend everyone to take advantage of this opportunity when a similar project is offered again.