Since the beginning of 2022, the GREENESTO team from the innovation platform ARENA2036 (www.arena2036.de) has been driving a fully electric e-van to Stuttgart schools.
The aim of GREENESTO is to use hands-on methods to advance the dialogue on sustainability and to work together with citizens of different age groups to find out how they can act sustainably and have an influence themselves. To this end, the team developed a workshop model based on the basic idea of mindset change and the method and mindset of design thinking.
In order to be able to hold the workshops anywhere, regardless of the infrastructure, the Greenesto van has multifunctional workshop furniture for both indoors and outdoors in its luggage: a set of Xbrick® multifunctional furniture and the matching flexible accessories.
Partner: Arena 2036 e.V.
Photos: Arena 2036
Year: 2022
In order to be able to carry out the workshop model with as little barriers as possible, the Greensto coaches bring everything that is needed for the workshop. Even the furniture. The school hardly has to make any preparations. This means that the workshop can be held very flexibly and, depending on local options, in the auditorium, in the hallway and, in dry weather, in the courtyard, on the sports field or on the lawn.
The modular equipment enables a wide range of workshop formats and coaches can react dynamically to the requirements on site: the flexible Xbrick® furniture modules are suitable for a wide range of arrangements. Ideally, workshop landscapes and settings are created that are highly variable and can be changed quickly and easily. These learning spaces make it easy to work in groups, hold presentations, have places to retreat to or have places for informal exchange. Xbrick® can help create these new learning spaces.
A dynamic learning space design means that the room itself and its furniture create flexible usage options. With movable furniture such as Xbrick®, participants can design their own learning settings, contribute their own ideas and work in a way that is adapted to the respective task. The Xbrick® in particular is suitable for quickly switching between individual, pair and group tasks.
In addition to the seating options, the building blocks also create storage areas, side tables and poster walls. Because the coachees can participate in the use of the room, they can create exactly the right environment that they need to work optimally. In addition, helping to design their workshop environment has a motivating effect on the participants: They are more than just consumers, but an active part of the learning process. This creates a working culture in which seminar leaders and participants can really meet on an equal footing. And the approach fits exactly with the hands-on philosophy of the Greenesto seminars. With Xbrick® and our accessories, modules are available that learning spaces quickly and easily, making it easy for seminar participants to create their own work environment. Intuitively and in no time at all. Made of useful materials. For indoors and outdoors.
Sometimes there is no space available indoors. Or heat and bad air make concentrated work almost impossible on some days. A solution for this: With Xbrick®, innovative sustainable seminars, training courses and outdoor events with flexible furniture in the green meeting room are possible.
Holding workshops outdoors not only saves events such as seminars and training courses from bad air indoors on hot summer days, but actually has some physiological, social and academic benefits.
Workshops outdoors increase the desire and motivation to participate in the training with commitment. The freer setting of a green event room can help participants to find creative solutions and deal with conflicts more openly. Another positive factor is the effect of nature on our perception of stress. Spaces close to nature relieve high pressure to perform and can reduce stress levels.
A particular advantage is the low weight and the handle openings of the building blocks. This means that even young students can carry the workshop furniture to any location and move, dismantle and reassemble it as needed. Another highlight is the easy cleaning of the building blocks. Thanks to the durable and robust plastic, this is easy to do and does not cause any time-consuming complications. The material is stable and the Xbrick® can be set up outside without any problems, even on uneven grass and other surfaces. The elements are robust, but very gentle on their environment: the absorbent material does not cause scratches or noise, but can be moved very quietly. Xbrick feels pleasantly warm and offers an ergonomic, comfortable seat.
Since the beginning of 2022, the Greenesto van has been on the road with a set consisting of 30 Xbrick® in several colors, 2 bench tops X-Bench and 2 table tops X-table as well as associated connectors and its own whiteboards. The equipment fits well in the van and is sufficient for 10-20 participants.
The interdisciplinary team of coaches, mentors and other creative minds has been running the workshops in schools since spring 2022 and has already inspired many teachers and students. This is also the case for Lisa Frank, a teacher at the Solitude Gymnasium Weilimdorf, who was able to take part in the Kintsugi workshop as part of the children’s and youth day of the science festival on the town hall square: “I find this hands-on experience very motivating for this age group to creatively engage with the topic of sustainability.”
The workshops use a wide variety of work materials, such as Kintsugi method cards or the GREENESTO Workbook English, which all participants get.
The idea for GREENESTO was recognized as one of the most innovative climate protection projects by the Climate Innovation Council of the City of Stuttgart. Greenesto is supported by the Climate Innovation Fund of the City of Stuttgart.
To the press release of the City of Stuttgart
#jetztklimachen
As design thinking experts, the team is of course particularly aware that these formats can also be constantly improved and adapted. Therefore, the project is continuously optimized and the results recorded at the end.
The project will also continue in 2023.
More information at www.arena2036.de/de/DF-GREENESTO
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