Gemeinwohl bauen

Social cohesion requires trust, a sense of community, and tangible places. The BOB CAMPUS in Wuppertal is one such place—a social construct and a learning space, created and shaped collectively by many people. This book tells its story—personal, honest, and inspiring. Following the first volume in the Gemeinwohl bauen series, which focused on the structural and spatial transformation of a former textile factory, this second volume explores the socially transformative potential of participatory and cooperative processes in the creation and appropriation of the site. Around thirty people—from the neighborhood, volunteer initiatives, non-profit and migrant self-organizations, the Montag Stiftung Urbane Räume, and the municipal administration—share their personal perspectives on the project, supplemented by expert insights from urban planning as well as the social and educational sciences. Their stories illustrate what it takes to spark—and continually nurture—the magic of community spirit within a neighborhood.

• Good-practice example of a community-oriented, participatory transformation based on the "principle of initial investment"
• Focus on social processes, approaches, and lessons learned
• With portrait photography by Caroline Schreer and personal contributions from around thirty project participants from Wuppertal and the Oberbarmen neighborhood
• Background information on BOB CAMPUS, the award-winning neighborhood development project (including the 2025 German Urban Development Award)