A cooking-trolley, designed by TUM students:

Thinking outside the box

“überkochen” was primarily designed as a means to further intercultural exchange and inclusion. The beginning of the project “Schule designen” started off with a visit at the cooperating “Südschule” in Bad Tölz, including discussions with teachers and pupils. The aim: design-based attempts to shape schools as worlds of learning.

Constanze, Marco and Moritz were connected by a common idea: “We wanted to establish ‘eating together’ as basis to get together and overcome boundaries.”

Many ideas from workshops

At the beginning of November, they started to knock on quite a lot of doors – and they assessed everyday life in schools as well as potential needs. There was “a lot of positive feedback”, says Constanze. The headmaster of the “Mittelschule am Winthirplatz” – a place where pupils with little to no command of the German language are taught – was immediately fond of the idea.

Based on two workshops in school classes, they collected ideas for “überkochen”. The students also thought up special action cards about specific dishes and ingredients to promote understanding between different cultures.

Partner Hans Sauer Foundation

The preliminary prototype is 90 cm in height, 70 cm in width and 1.20 m long (including the handle). It can be pushed, and it fits through a school door. The worktop and the drawers – for the cooking utensils, the aprons, cutlery, cutting boards and menu cards – are made of wood.

The Hans Sauer Foundation is a partner of the project. Shortly before the Carnival holidays, “überkochen” was presented at the Chair and at the “Südschule”. Constanze Buckenlei and Marco Kellhammer are planning to continue “überkochen” as a project next semester.

(Barbara Link)

More information:
Hans Sauer Foundation "Schule designen"