A successful premiere in the “Amphitheater”

The children of the Studierendenwerk Childcare Center Königshügel officially opened their “Amphitheatre” in the center garden with singing, dancing and a small cover band.

The round construction with three ascending seat rows will be used as stage and playing area. It is a cooperation project of Studierendenwerk Aachen, RWTH and Sozialwerk Aachener Christen.

All who were involved in the realization of the project were invited to the “premiere” in order to celebrate the completion of the theatre together. Historical bluestones from postwar debris that had been part of a wall in the former botanical garden of RWTH were used in its construction. In the past few years, not only Childcare Center Königshügel but also a gym of the university sports center were built in the former garden area.

A culture forum with historical construction material
Originally, it was planned to dispose of the bluestones after the gym had been built. However, Wolfgang Dachtera, head of the childcare center, succeeded in keeping them and also in gaining the remaining garden area of 1 800 square meters for his childcare center. The construction of the culture forum could start with the help of various institutions: RWTH gave the childcare center the historical building material, Studierendenwerk financed and supervised the project and Sozialwerk Aachener Christen did the actual construction.

Successful project with learning effect
“The project is a win-win situation for all parties”, said Wolfgang Dachtera. “For Sozialwerk it is a good reference and the result of successful work, for the university it is a great way of using the empty area appropriately and for the Studierendenwerk childcare center it is a high-quality playground with great potential.”

Landscape architect Martin Heinrichs, who coordinated the project for Sozialwerk, called the amphitheater the “perfect example for a successful project with learning effect”. Sozialwerk was able to use the construction of the amphitheater to instruct and teach people who wish to go back on the job market. Accuracy and success of the project were more important than speed.     

Workshop as team project
As the cooperation worked so fine, Childcare Center Königshügel is already planning the realization of the next project. By August, a workshop designed and planned by students of RWTH will be built in the center garden. Christine Wulf, project coordinator in the RWTH construction department will take care of the building permit applications, Sozialwerk Aachen will built the path from the childcare center to the workshop and Studierendenwerk will again be responsible of the general management. “I hope for a similar synergy and support between the cooperation partners” , said Dachtera at the end of his speech.  

The children already love their new garden stage. With a Bon Jovi rock song and a drumming and singing performance they made a lively atmosphere in the amphitheater. The audience agreed: The premier was successful!