WF.B + WF.M Common Grounds – October school
The 2025 October School Common Grounds brings together six universities and more than 120 students from across Europe in a week-long collaborative exploration of circular design, material experimentation, and sustainable building practices. Hosted in the heart of Brussels, this unique program combines hands-on workshops, talks, public debates, and visits to pioneering architectural projects in Brussels.
On Monday 27th October we ask Students to arrive in Brussels early and visit several projects in self self-organised manner from the provided booklet as a base for discussion in the following days, in the evening we gather at Stadsatelierdeville, the workshop site. From Tuesday to Thursday, students will work in rotating groups. Each group will experience different material-focused workshops led by a diverse team of architects, contractors, and researchers. The ateliers focus on geo- and bio-based materials, encouraging students to learn through direct making, experimentation, and collective reflection and are grouped in 3 topics of material sampling, Prototyping and big-scale construction. Each morning begins with a coffee talk (9–10h), where invited architects and contractors introduce their practices and perspectives on material-based design. The outcomes of the ateliers will be presented on Friday in a collective exhibition and festive closing event.
Alongside the workshops, additional exchange formats will enrich the week:
- Evening debates gather academics and professionals around topics such as Ecological Pedagogies, Local–Global Relations, Embracing Uncertainty, and Hybrid Practice. These sessions are open to the public and aim to situate the ateliers in a broader cultural and professional context.
- Booklet of Brussels projects: Each participant will receive a guide to inspiring circular practices and architectural initiatives in Brussels, supporting independent exploration and offering a reference resource for future design studios or personal work.
For RWTH Aachen, 32 students will take part in the October School, with 15 master students able to enroll in this elective module (WF.M) and 20 bachelor students (WF.B).
WF.B + WF.M Common Grounds – October school
The 2025 October School Common Grounds brings together six universities and more than 120 students from across Europe in a week-long collaborative exploration of circular design, material experimentation, and sustainable building practices. Hosted in the heart of Brussels, this unique program combines hands-on workshops, talks, public debates, and visits to pioneering architectural projects in Brussels.
On Monday 27th October we ask Students to arrive in Brussels early and visit several projects in self self-organised manner from the provided booklet as a base for discussion in the following days, in the evening we gather at Stadsatelierdeville, the workshop site. From Tuesday to Thursday, students will work in rotating groups. Each group will experience different material-focused workshops led by a diverse team of architects, contractors, and researchers. The ateliers focus on geo- and bio-based materials, encouraging students to learn through direct making, experimentation, and collective reflection and are grouped in 3 topics of material sampling, Prototyping and big-scale construction. Each morning begins with a coffee talk (9–10h), where invited architects and contractors introduce their practices and perspectives on material-based design. The outcomes of the ateliers will be presented on Friday in a collective exhibition and festive closing event.
Alongside the workshops, additional exchange formats will enrich the week:
- Evening debates gather academics and professionals around topics such as Ecological Pedagogies, Local–Global Relations, Embracing Uncertainty, and Hybrid Practice. These sessions are open to the public and aim to situate the ateliers in a broader cultural and professional context.
- Booklet of Brussels projects: Each participant will receive a guide to inspiring circular practices and architectural initiatives in Brussels, supporting independent exploration and offering a reference resource for future design studios or personal work.
For RWTH Aachen, 32 students will take part in the October School, with 15 master students able to enroll in this elective module (WF.M) and 20 bachelor students (WF.B).