Commons-based Adaptive Reuse for Student Accommodation (Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme)

This Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) is part of the transdisciplinary project “Reuse for Affordable Student Housing”, which addresses the student housing crisis by exploring adaptive re-use of underused buildings and commons-based models of living. Students earn 3 (+ 1 optional) ECTS credits after succesful completion of the programme.

Instead of focusing on new construction, the programme asks how existing infrastructures, such as the partially vacant Mathematics Building at TU Berlin, can be transformed into affordable housing for students through minimal interventions and collective self-organisation. The TU Berlin Mathematics Building was completed around 1981 as a flagship of early eco-modernism and large-scale solar architecture: glass skin facade, exposed concrete thermal mass with bright red-blue accents were meant to passively save energy while signalling a high-tech future for science. Today, the once-iconic building is technically outdated and in need of major refurbishment; with the new mathematics building rising on the eastern campus and technical problems, the old tower now stood largely vacant since 2023, opening up a controversial debate about demolition, deep renovation, or experimental re-use.

During the BIP, students will be introduced to:

• the project Campus as Commons and the maths building case;
• current debates on student housing, adaptive re-use and urban commons;
• the idea of a living lab / citizen-science approach, where students act as designers, users and co-researchers.

TU Berlin students will present their studio outcomes as a knowledge-transfer input. Based on this, international mixed groups will receive a design-build and governance assignment to prepare concepts for a more precise mock-up / prototype in the mathematics building, including basic ideas for operating models, rules and everyday practices.

In the on-site week in Berlin (16–20 February 2026), we will:

• explore the potentials and constraints of the building;
• organise a field trip to central sites of Berlin’s housing and tenants’ movements and Right-to-the-City initiatives;
• further develop and test the design-build proposals;
• source re-use materials (where possible) in collaboration with local partners;
• and collaboratively construct and test a 1:1 mock-up / modular prototype in the mathematics building.

The programme combines design, construction and governance. Alongside spatial and material questions, we will work on:

• operating models and affordability (e.g. commons-based and public–commons-partnership approaches),
• self-management and everyday rules (roles, responsibilities, care work, conflict resolution),
• institutional and legal conditions (temporary use, safety, liability) and their transformation potential.

After completing the programme, students will be able to:

1. Identify key principles of adaptive re-use, low-carbon design, and commons-based housing models.
2. Explain spatial, social, and governance challenges relevant to transforming existing buildings into student housing.
3. Apply basic craft, construction, and re-use material techniques to produce prototype elements.
4. Analyse the potentials and constraints of the Mathematics Building for affordable housing solutions.
5. Evaluate design and governance options for feasibility, affordability, and sustainability.
6. Create a collaborative 1:1 design-build mock-up and outline an associated operating model.

• Bachelor and Master students in architecture, planning , urban design, civil engineering, housing / real estate, social sciences or related disciplines from TU Berlin, Gdańsk Tech, Politecnico di Milano and other universities in the ENHANCE network.
• Strong motivation for hands-on, collaborative work in international, mixed groups.
• English level B2/C1 (working language of the BIP).
• Bonus (not mandatory): previous experience in or general craft skills (woodworking, interior fit-out, etc.), furniture and interior design, building with re-use materials, construction in existing structures.

The two-level mutual trust-based quality assurance scheme has been adopted:

• at the university level: Technische Universität Berlin has applied its internal quality assurance procedures and structures to the proposal of Commons-based Adaptive Reuse for Student Accommodation it submitted to ENHANCE and to its implementation - the related learning activities,
• at the Alliance level: the body composed of Education Officers has made decisions regarding the inclusion of Commons-based Adaptive Reuse for Student Accommodation proposed by Technische Universität Berlin to the Innovative Learning Campus part of the joint ENHANCE educational offer, based on the compliance with the formal requirements and ENHANCE goals.

• On-site week Berlin (16–20 Feb 2026) ~8 h/day × 5 days = 40 h (intro, field trip, design-build, workshops, final review)
• Online phase
  • 2 online sessions à ~2 h (kick-off, introductions, Berlin studio input, task briefing) = 4 h
  • Required pre-reading / background material = 6 h
• Group design-build assignment (between online phase and Berlin week) Remote collaboration on mock-up concepts, furniture/interior details, reuse strategies etc. → 25–30 h
• Documentation & reflection afterwards Short group or individual documentation of the prototype + reflection = 10 h

Assessment is pass/fail and based on:

• Group design-build work (concept development, prototype construction)
• Governance/operating model proposal
• Final presentation and prototype review
• Short documentation + reflection after the programme

Please register here. Applicants will be selected based on their motivation, fit to the programme and diversity of skills and backgrounds.

TU Berlin, Campus Charlottenburg, Institute for Urban and Regional Plannung