m4-SpaceLab

The goal of m4 is to enable young people to independently create safe and appealing spaces for social interaction and leisure activities. In doing so, the project supports their mental, social, and physical development.

The project develops flexible solutions for the use of publicly accessible spaces, which can be deployed either permanently or temporarily. At its core is the m4 container: a mobile or stationary unit equipped with leisure items such as sports equipment, seating, or small speaker systems.

These containers can be placed in schoolyards, public squares, vacant lots, construction gaps, or under bridges, and can be used much like a pop-up kiosk. By providing them, municipal decision-makers can make a meaningful contribution to the urban community—supporting the needs and well-being of young people, strengthening social cohesion and stability, and at the same time helping to reduce vandalism.

The design is developed in close collaboration with young people.

m4 is the result of years of work with students of the Deutschherrenschule within the course “City, Youth, Interaction.” Industrial designer Andreas Schmieg is responsible for the structural planning. The project is being developed in cooperation with BSMF, LoPa-Griesheim, the Georg-August-Zinn-Schule, and the Arche.