Location Dresden

Curious, Creative, Concrete – A Week of Hands-On Exploration

Investigating, shaping, imagining—from July 6 to July 10, 2026, plenty of mixing, pouring, and sculpting took place once again in Dresden. For the fourth time, the Collaborative Research Centre/Transregio 280 (CRC/TRR 280) at TU Dresden, in cooperation with Jugendkunstschule Dresden, hosted the Concrete ART Project. Eighteen children aged 8 to 14 spent a creative summer vacation week experiencing concrete from entirely new perspectives—not merely as a building material, but as a medium full of possibilities.

Across three different workshops at Albrechtsberg Castle, the young participants explored the versatility of concrete in combination with materials such as wood, clay, textiles, and paper. They researched, experimented, sculpted, painted—and constantly marveled at the results. What might seem gray and heavy at first glance can, in the right hands, transform into imaginative decorative pieces, sculptures, or small everyday objects. The creative workshop sessions were complemented by a guided forest excursion, where the children discovered ingenious structural principles found in nature: How do blades of grass manage to stay so upright and sturdy? Why do maple seeds fly like tiny helicopters? And how do jewelweed seed pods actually burst open? The group also explored why learning from nature is essential for building in a more resource-efficient way.

As in previous years, the project was guided by an interdisciplinary team of artists and research associates from TU Dresden. They provided not only professional expertise and technical support, but also exciting glimpses into current research on carbon concrete and sustainable construction.

A special highlight was once again the joint exhibition at the end of the week, where the children proudly showcased their work to their families—effortlessly demonstrating just how inspiring the intersection of art and science can be.

The project was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and was free of charge for all participants.

Participant Age: 8–14 years

Location: Albrechtsberg Castle – Crafts Workshop, Ceramics Workshop, Left Coach House, Right Coach House (li. Remise, re. Remise)

Fee: Free of charge (funded by the DFG)

Course Instructors: Lisa Legain, Nadine Wölk, Naomi Bick, and Andreas Eckardt

Research Associates: Silke Scheerer, Josi Herfort, Jasmin Dräger, Lena Leicht, Lissy Flechsig, Silvia Reißig, Johann Sinner, Julius Scheel

Pedagogical Support: Johanna Rehm

Public Relations Support: Stefan Gröschel

Dates & Times: July 6 – July 10, 2026, daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Aachen

Concrete, Mathematics and Moon Rock – Workshop Weeks in Aachen

The collaboration between the Werkwochen ("Workshop Weeks") and the "Concrete Art Project" of the SFB/TRR 280 (Collaborative Research Centre/Transregio 280) has now firmly established itself as a regular vacation program for children and teenagers. From August 24 to 28, participants had the opportunity to work creatively with concrete while gaining insights into various skilled trades and the scientific research conducted at the participating institutes of RWTH Aachen University.

Trades at the Institute

In the mornings, participants were given exciting insights into the diverse technical trades at the Institute of Structural Concrete (Institut für Massivbau)—including machinists, electronics technicians, industrial mechanics, and master concrete craftsmen.

The craft of concrete construction was introduced by our concrete technologist, Mike Güldenberg, through a small load test. The children were invited to get hands-on and operate a hydraulic pump to apply load to a concrete beam. They watched with excitement as the beam ultimately cracked and failed under a load of 700 kilograms (approx. 1,540 lbs).

Producing Textile Threads from Moon Rock

For the second consecutive year, Linda Cortes from the Institute of Textile Technology (ITA) at RWTH Aachen dedicated her session to lunar regolith (moon rock). This year, she showcased new research findings: fibers are extracted from synthetically produced moon rock through thermal heating. In the future, these fibers could potentially serve as insulation or reinforcement materials. We look forward with great excitement to seeing what new discoveries Linda Cortes will share next year.

Concrete and Art

In the afternoons, it was time for hands-on practice: Antonio Nunez and Nico Schneider guided the children in creating molds that were subsequently filled with concrete. It was especially thrilling to see tangible results emerge after just 24 hours.

Research and Skilled Trades

This program highlighted that scientific research alone is not the whole story—it takes skilled professionals to bring researchers' ideas to life and put them to the test. Skilled trades and technical crafts are, therefore, an integral pillar of the university.

The project was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and was free of charge for all participants.

Participant Age: 7–16 years
Location: Jugendbildungsstätte Rolleferberg, Rollefbachweg 64, 52078 Aachen
Fee: Free of charge (funded by the DFG)
Course Instructors: Antonio Nunez and Nico Schneider
Research Associate: Linda Cortes Satizabal (ITA)
Technical Staff: Mike Güldenberg
Pedagogical Support: Werkwochen team leader group
Public Relations Support: Angela Alvarez y Leal
Dates & Times: August 18 – August 22, 2025, daily from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM