An inspiring place for concentrated work, even when slightly overcrowded - the new study space on the Schwenningen campus. Project manager Prof. Dr. Stefan Pfeffer and Christina Gunzenhauser (Head of the Tuttlingen library) presented the results of an exciting student project to Vice-President Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Georg Enkler, Head of Administration Andrea Linke, President Dr. Alexandra Bormann, Vice-President Prof. Dr. Christoph Reich, Library Director Peter Daub, and Prof. Dr. Markus Egert, Scientific Director of the Libraries, presented the results of an exciting student project (all from left).
New “Work & Chill” learning space on the Schwenningen campus inspires students
Concentrated work, quiet study, relaxation breaks—all this is now possible at Furtwangen University (HFU) in the new “Work & Chill” box in the library on the Schwenningen campus. The innovative room concept, which emerged from a student project in the engineering psychology programme, was enthusiastically received by HFU students during the summer semester –the box was already fully booked during the last study and exam period.
In order to find a suitable solution, modular room concepts were evaluated by four students as part of a practical project. Under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Stefan Pfeffer and Christina Gunzenhauser, senior librarian on the Tuttlingen campus, Alessandro Coronato, Allen Hegic, Almedin Kukic, and Gowshikan Manoharan designed a learning and working environment that is geared toward the requirements and needs of its users and supports them in their specific learning tasks – ergonomic, functional, and inviting at the same time.
The new study box offers the ideal conditions for this – an acoustically protected environment, individually adjustable lighting, ergonomically optimised furniture, and the option to switch between concentrated individual work and short breaks. Learners can connect with each other or work on shared files via a monitor. The design is based on a detailed analysis of the usage context and was developed and refined iteratively using virtual reality simulations.
During a tour of the new study box at the Schwenningen site, the inspiring atmosphere also rubbed off on the members of the university executive – President Dr. Alexandra Bormann, Head of Administration Andrea Linke, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Georg Enkler, Vice-President for Academics, and Prof. Dr. Christoph Reich, Vice-President for Research, took the opportunity to test the new “room within a room” in the library for themselves and learn about the project from Prof. Dr. Pfeffer, Christina Gunzenhauser, Library Director Peter Daub, and the Academic Director of the Libraries, Prof. Dr. Markus Egert. During a lively discussion, everyone discovered all of its functions together. The fact that more people were present than originally intended for the box – which has three seats and a beanbag chair – was cheerfully regarded as a nice example of the attractiveness and versatility of the new learning space.
“The positive response from students shows that we have really struck a chord with the box,” says Prof. Pfeffer. “Modern learning architecture needs flexible solutions that support students in their everyday lives.”
The “Work & Chill” box is mobile, modular in design, and has already been tested at the Tuttlingen university campus. The library team is already considering equipping the library with several learning boxes, which could make an important contribution to the further development of modern learning spaces at the university in the future.