Environmental scientist Nick Haimerl attaches great importance to environmental issues and so together with Ivonne zum Felde, a carpenter and initiator of the idea, he opened an “open workshop meeting” in Hamburg. This project, which is sponsored by the non-profit association insel e.V., aims to recycle plastic and other materials and produce new products with a social and ecological sustainability reference. Initial product ideas include benches, bicycle stands, wheelchair ramps and high beds. The focus is on the sustainable and barrier-free design of public space in Hamburg.
As the name “Offener Werkstatt-Treff” (open workshop meeting) describes, the offer is aimed at all people, with and without impairments, who want to recycle materials and create new products from them. An important aspect here is that all stakeholders – depending on their interests and abilities – are involved in all processes. In this way, participation, self-efficacy and creativity are to be preserved or promoted. It is also possible to learn in practical ways how resource cycles, climate change and pollution work, thus contributing to general environmental education. The icing on the cake is the “inclusive FabLab”, including 3D printers and large-capacity laser cutters. Here, all interested parties can get access to modern production techniques free of charge.
This project will be available for the first time in the world in this form. The workshop is currently under construction and REYHER has been happy to provide screws, nuts, washers and other fixing materials for the initial fitting of fasteners and shelves. These are then used to assemble the products from the recycled materials.
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