In spring and summer 2025, a campus garden was created on the West Campus of The Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR) in Krefeld, which will be increasingly open to the neighbourhood from the coming gardening season. In the middle of the city, a place is growing that will bring the university and the neighbourhood closer together and offer space for encounters, environmental education, culture and community interaction.
To make this a success, students from the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences are currently conducting activating doorstep talks in the area surrounding the campus garden at Frankenring 20. They want to find out what wishes, ideas and interests people in the neighbourhood have regarding the use of the garden. The talks are part of the "HSNR Gardening" teaching project sponsored by the university, which strengthens education for sustainable development and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Under the joint leadership of Prof Nicolas Beucker (Faculty of Design) and Prof Dr Michael Noack (Faculty of Applied Social Sciences), students from both faculties are working on finding out how the garden can be turned into a place for communal use. "It is important to us that ideas from the neighbourhood are incorporated into the further development of the garden," says Prof. Dr. Michael Noack. "The garden should be a place that is thought about and co-designed by many."
From a design perspective, the campus garden also opens up new opportunities for teaching education and participation. "The garden shows how design and social perspectives can work together to bring the university and the city closer together," emphasises Prof. Nicolas Beucker. "A place is being created here where sustainability can be experienced in a very practical way." New teaching formats are also being trialled as part of "HSNR Gardening". For example, the students planted special types of flowers that will inspire new food and tableware concepts in ceramic design in the future.
The fact that the campus garden is already promoting community was already evident during its construction: students removed the turf, planted vegetables, created a flowering meadow and planted old fruit varieties such as apples, cherries and walnuts. A raised bed and a picnic table made from recycled materials were also added. Children from the neighbourhood built a wild bee hotel and social work students organised a barbecue together. The result was a place where not only lettuce, courgettes and pumpkins grew, but also community.
The campus garden has thus become a "third place" on campus: It welcomes students, staff, neighbours and guests at the entrance to the university. Hammocks, a neighbouring boules court and new seating invite you to linger.
In January 2026, the results of the doorstep talks will be presented at a public meeting on campus. The future use and possible forms of participation will be discussed there.
