Hochschule
München
University of
Applied Sciences

The ‘University Transformation Laboratory’ in Wolfratshausen

Young and old shaping the future together

HM:UniverCity and the town of Wolfratshausen have successfully applied for the ‘University Transformation Laboratory’ funding scheme run by the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft, with a view to using the Wolfratshausen Museum as a transformation laboratory for the development of projects aimed at revitalising the town centre.

The museum chronicling the history of Wolfratshausen has become a central hub that helps shape the identity of the town’s residents. It bridges the past and the present. With the addition of the Transformation Lab, it has been expanded to address issues of the future. According to the motto ‘Young and old shaping the future together’, residents of Wolfratshausen – from ‘young’ to ‘old’ – have been trialling new forms of participation in order to jointly develop and test the vision of a vibrant and sustainable town centre of tomorrow, one that meets the needs and requirements of current and future generations.

HM:UniverCity coordinated a co-creative process using appropriate methods in which the museum became a space for experimentation and transformation for a year. With the involvement of various stakeholder groups, potential locations in the city centre were explored and further developed in so-called ‘mini-labs’ through ideas for new participatory formats. Through co-creation, an intergenerational exchange was facilitated, bringing citizens’ diverse perspectives into the discussion. Participants were made more aware of their role in shaping processes and empowered to actively champion their ideas.

The implementation of various interactive activities and an exhibition about the project brought the initiative to a close. The project was supported by students from the Department of Design, led by Katrin Laville, a social design expert and research manager at the Design Cultures Institute for Applied Design Research, as well as students from the Department of Applied Social Sciences. Prof. Dr. Sigrid Mairhofer provided academic support for the Wolfratshausen Museum Transformation Lab. Dr. Stefan Werner, funding officer for the town of Wolfratshausen, and Prof. Sarah Dorkenwald from HM:UniverCity were responsible for the operational implementation.