International collaboration and creative solutions in Wuppertal

This year’s challenge focused on a real urban issue in Wuppertal, which will host the Bundesgartenschau (BUGA) in 2031 – a major horticultural exhibition comparable to the Dutch Floriade. With millions of visitors expected, the event poses significant mobility challenges. The students worked on a critical traffic junction in the city that serves as a key access point to one of the BUGA zones: the busy Bahnstraße–Vohwinkeler Straße–Kaiserstraße intersection. Their task was to explore how this area could be made safer and more user-friendly for visitors before, during, and after the event. 

Throughout the week, students worked in mixed teams on various sub-assignments. Some focused on redesigning the intersection, while others addressed broader topics such as communication, parking, and crowd management. Drawing on best practices from previous large-scale events across the Netherlands, Germany, and other countries, they came up with creative solutions, including a mobility app and smart wayfinding concepts. 

The week began with a field trip to the Nordbahntrasse – a former railway line now transformed into a multifunctional walking and cycling route. Students were then briefed by representatives from the City of Wuppertal and the BUGA organisation. The remainder of the week was filled with project work, feedback sessions, and excursions to places such as Cologne and the castle in Solingen. On the final day, students presented their proposals to the city and event organisers, who were impressed by the creativity and professionalism shown. 

The strength of Fresh Brains lies in its intense, short-term collaboration: a pressure cooker environment where students bring their knowledge, creativity, and international skills together to develop applicable solutions. The client especially valued the students’ fresh perspectives — though some proposals, such as temporarily closing busy traffic junctions, were noted as less culturally or politically feasible in Germany than they might be in the Netherlands. The organising parties are now exploring how they can build on the students’ ideas. 

The next edition of Fresh Brains Week will take place in the Netherlands in 2026, with BUas taking the lead. 

Student Mats looks back enthusiastically: 
“When I look back on the RBI Challenge in Wuppertal, I remember it as a really fun and interactive week in which I learned a lot, stayed actively involved, and had a great time. The week was all about international exchange of knowledge and culture while working on an important project for the city. I’d love to go back and see our ideas brought to life!” 

Suzan also found the experience enriching: 
“The Wuppertal excursion was a unique and valuable learning experience. It was fascinating to work with students from different schools and cultural backgrounds. The differences between Dutch and German approaches to spatial planning were especially interesting. The combination of lectures, excursions, and group work created a great balance between theory and practice. It was an inspiring week that has helped me grow both professionally and personally.”