Upcycling tree stools
for more coziness
on the Kronenplatz

The Kronenplatz at the children's youth center & event building jubez is a lively meeting place where different cultures come together. But something essential was missing: seating. To make this public space even more inviting, an exciting project involving young people was launched.

In June 2023, a special campaign took place in front of the jubez in Karlsruhe: Every Monday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., people worked hard on Kronenplatz to enrich the public space with new wooden seating. And the best thing about it? This campaign will continue in the future as part of various group activities. Numerous groups, institutions and individuals have come together to continue taking an active part in this project.

A joint project in cooperation with the Karlsruhe Forestry Office

The campaign would not have been possible without the cooperation of the Karlsruhe Forestry Office. Together, the participants selected impressive 100-year-old tree trunks and debarked them by hand in the first step. This was followed by the elaborate sanding of the trunks in several stages.

Focus on sustainability: upcycling disused chairs

This project was given a particularly sustainable touch by upcycling disused chairs. The backrests of these chairs were reshaped using a tenon cutter and then glued into the newly drilled mortises in the tree trunks. The result is unique seating that is not only comfortable, but also tells a story.

The final touch of charm: oiling and practical handle straps

To make the stools fit for public spaces, the tree trunks were finally oiled. Practical handle straps were also attached to the trunks, allowing residents to move the new seating as they wish and thus design the space to their liking. This hands-on project shows how a community can come together in a neighborhood to make public spaces more liveable.

A project as part of the City Transformation Process of the City of Karlsruhe. The program is supported by funding from the federal program "Sustainable inner cities and centers" program.