Skills City aims to become Europe’s most comprehensive and attractive community for young people in vocational education. Hands-on work creates experience, which is reflected in dialogue across professions, levels, and genders—uniting individuals and groups. The goal is to merge the city, landscape, social activities, and education into a vibrant whole that is far greater than the sum of its parts.
A key element in this vision is the Common House, designed to strengthen solidarity, democratic participation, and diversity among students. The house serves as a central gathering place where young people can engage in local democracy, socialize, share meals, celebrate milestones, and showcase their professional skills.
The building’s open circular design reflects the core values of the project, emphasizing openness and inclusivity. It supports the vision of a welcoming educational environment that embraces everyone, with no defined front or back, making it equally accessible from all directions. This circular form not only fosters a sense of connection but also integrates harmoniously with the surrounding natural landscape, blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces and creating a seamless flow between the two.
The open layout invites people to gather, interact, and participate in activities throughout the year, making the community house a social hotspot. Built from natural, locally sourced materials, it is a sustainable and ambitious structure that offers a dynamic space with varied ceiling heights—both literally and metaphorically—providing ample room for personal and professional growth.
