With a 50 point lead ahead of the second placed team, the Swiss Team enjoyed a thrilling and rewarding win at the 2017 Solar Decathlon in Denver, Colorado. Over the past 3 years, students from four universities in western Switzerland worked tirelessly to build their vision of what Switzerland needs to tackle the necessary urban and energy transition. The NeighborHub acts as a tool where an entire neighborhood can come together to learn how to become more sustainable.

This concept of creating a tool, not a home for a family, proved to be challenging for team’s performance at the competition. Although the Swiss Team won podiums in 8 of the 10 competitions of the Solar Decathlon, the two in which the NeighborHub was portrayed as a social innovation for neighborhood learning, were less successful with the team reaching 48/100 points (10th out of 11) in the Innovation contest, and 60/100 points (last out of 11) in the Market Potential contest.

This however does not have to do with unplanned failure, but rather with the conscious risk taken and the seizing of an opportunity by the Swiss Team. They to developed a house which is less suitable to the competition requirements of building a home for a family, but rather built a house which fits Switzerland’s need to encourage behavioral change to become more sustainable in face of a growing population resulting in urban densification.

Qualities of winners
The decision of the Swiss Team to go far beyond the rules of the competition – so far that they suffered by losing points – is a testament to the strength, vision and determination of the team members who were prepared to take risks, go far beyond the required and to foster and shape innovations, which have the power to change the way in which we live. To me, these are qualities of winners!

Having joined the team over a year ago, I am happy to say that it has been a fascinating yet challenging experience. It was fascinating because of the many creative ideas that came together in the project from engaged and energetic students, willing to change the world for the better. It was also challenging because of the need to bring these together to create a coherent, strong and compelling story for the competition.

Apart from having learnt a great deal about housing, urban planning and interdisciplinary work, the greatest learning of all came from taking on an inherently challenging task which consisted in developing the best possible narrative, which fit the competition rules, despite ignoring them by not building a family home. By taking on this challenge, I had to take my thoughts that one step further, think about that one thing again and again and take a completely different mindset as usual. As they all say, learning is lifelong, and by constantly taking on challenges and going that one step further to find the best possible solution, we truly lived that notion within the Swiss Team.

Our three year, 250m2, 29 photovoltaic panel strong and 200 student large challenge is making its way back to Fribourg whilst you read this, and we would love to give you a tour come spring!

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Wir sind fast da! Der NeighborHub ist beinahe bereit für den letzten Event vor seiner Abreise nach Denver. Es gibt zwar noch viel vorzubereiten und zu organisieren, aber wir sind zuversichtlich. Man spürt Aufregung und Anspannung im Team: einige von uns haben über zwei Jahre an diesem Projekt gearbeitet. Am Anfang war es nur eine Idee – jetzt ist der NeighborHub endlich Realität. Wir können ihn sehen, anfassen, betreten und uns in ihm zuhause fühlen. Es ist unglaublich, dass wir es so weit geschafft haben! Und was noch besser ist: Endlich können wir Euch den NeighborHub zeigen!

Aber was macht den NeighborHub denn so besonders? Der NeighborHub ist kein normales Haus für eine Familie, sondern eines für das ganze Quartier. Er soll zum Begegnungsort werden, an welchem sich die Menschen über Themen der Nachhaltigkeit informieren und sich auch praktisch mit diesen auseinandersetzen können. Das kann durch Workshops oder Präsentationen passieren, aber auch durch experimentelles Lernen. Zum Beispiel kann nachhaltige Haustechnik wie die in der Fassade eingebauten Solarzellen oder der Dünger erzeugende Fischtank hautnah miterlebt werden. Ziel ist, dass die Menschen durch den Austausch von Werkzeugen, Erfahrungen und Kenntnissen ein positives Zusammenleben erleben und nachhaltigere Lebensweisen erfahren.

Um unseren NeighborHub und unseren Visionen für eine nachhaltigere Lebensart besser kennenzulernen, laden wir euch am 10. Juni 2017 zum Tag der offenen Tür am ein! Es wird spannende Führungen durch den NeighborHub geben, sowie viele interaktive Aktivitäten für Gross und Klein, welche sich an unseren sieben zentralen Themen orientieren: Energie, Mobilität, Materialien, Biodiversität, Nahrung sowie Abfall- und Wassermanagement! Wir würden uns sehr freuen, euch bei uns zu sehen! Bis Bald!

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