I don’t know who lives in the flat below me, but the white car has been parked in front of my house for three days now. In fact, cars are parked in public spaces 95% of the day, occupying a parking space of at least 2 m x 5 m = 10 m². For the Federal Foundation for Building Culture, but also for Anna-Lena Frauenlob, Jan-Peter Heinz and Philip Frauenlob (Team 10 m² Neighbourhood), this contradicts the importance of public spaces as places for people to meet and relax.
Space for good relations
Anna-Lena, Jan-Peter and Philip believe that public spaces are the backbone of society and have designed a special bicycle trailer that brings people together in a small space. They envision a mobile bicycle trailer that is so much more than its name suggests. A bicycle trailer that serves as a counter for coffee and cake and as a storage space for materials and tools for a small library of things. When fully assembled and unfolded, including a bar table and bench, it takes up exactly the same space as the smallest parking space: 2 m x 5 m.
The trailer is to be built largely from used and upcycled materials. ‘Our aim is to encourage people to think about throwing things away, reusing them and giving them away,’ says the 10 m² Neighbourhood team. The bicycle trailer is to be used in car parks, thereby stimulating a discourse on the space required by cars in public spaces.
It is meant to invite people to informal encounters that could potentially lead to something more. The plan is: ‘If you stop by for the first time and grab a piece of cake, you might consider staying longer next time.’ After all, the 10 m² neighbourhood is intended to be offered regularly at the same location and become a regular fixture.
‘And then acquaintances can be made, a reading grandma or babysitter found, car sharing tried out or even just a drill borrowed – simply everything that makes a good neighbourhood.’
The bicycle trailer will initially be managed by the team itself. ‘We will start the pilot phase – at least one year – ourselves or with support from our own network and then will make regular appearances. We are currently identifying locations where the 10 m² space is required.’ As the bicycle trailer can also be borrowed, Anna-Lea, Jan-Peter and Philip are looking into where the bicycle trailer will be stationed and how the borrowing process will be managed.
Curious? View individual introductions to this year’s finalists here on our website or on our social media channels in the coming weeks leading up to the Klever Birne award ceremony on 11 September 2025 and find out more. Admission to the award ceremony is free of charge, but registration is requested.
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