BUW architecture students back from research trip to Africa

21.03.2023|09:18 Uhr

"It was something very special and unforgettable to be able to take part in the Summer School in Namibia", is how one participant summed up the Summer School at NUST University in Windhoek, where 15 architecture students from the University of Wuppertal came together with their African fellow students to discuss the topic of coworking.

Thematic preparations on the topic of coworking and the associated cooperation at NUST University had already taken place in Cape Town, where the students visited a newly created creative location and the first coworking space in the township of Khayelitsha as part of their two-week tour of the African continent.

At the Summer School in Windhoek, Dr Roland Busch, Deputy Professor of the Department of Economics of Planning and Building and organiser of the excursion, first presented the results of the Wuppertal research project on coworking. Afterwards, the bachelor's and master's students from Bergische Uni presented their analyses of urban and neighbourhood structures as well as their coworking concepts for Namibia. Master's students from NUST presented their upgrading strategies for the Namibian coastal town of Lüderitz.

After the content part of the excursion, the country was explored by bus. The programme included a visit to the non-profit organisation "Elephant Human Relations Aid" as well as exploring the coastal town of Swakopmund and visiting the Namib-Naukluft Park. "The excursion was a wonderful and unique experience for the students and also for us supervisors. I would like to thank everyone who supported us both financially and in terms of content. We would be particularly pleased to expand our cooperation with the Faculty of Architecture at NUST University. Initial intensive talks on this have already taken place with Dr Phillip Nühl, Head of the Department of Architecture and Spatial Planning at NUST University," says Dr Roland Busch.

To share the experiences of the excursion, the participants invite you to a presentation event on 19 April. Those interested are asked to register by 5 April at akande[at]uni-wuppertal.de or by phone on 0202-439-4123.

Contact:
Dr. Dipl.-Ing. Roland Busch – Professorship representation
Teaching and Research Area Economics of Planning and Building
Phone 0202/439-4259
E-Mail rbusch[at]uni-wuppertal.de