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Gesucht: Ideen zur Gestaltung, Integration und Funktionserweiterung städtischer Trafostationen
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Call for ideas: Design, integration, and functional expansion of urban transformer stations | Image: Adobe Stock (Image ID 1662469843), modified using AI

Studierende präsentieren Ihre Entwürfe in Halle/Saale.
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Students present their designs in Halle/Saale. | Photo: Adrian Heller, ai:L@HTWK Leipzig

Die Studierenden, Lehrenden und Projektpartner bei der Ausstellung „Transformer“ zum Projektabschluss in der Lernwerkstatt der Stadtwerke Halle in Halle / Saale.
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The students, lecturers and project partners at the TRANSFORMER exhibition at the end of the project in the Stadtwerke Halle learning workshop in Halle/Saale. | Photo: EVH GmbH

Call for Ideas: Design, integration, and functional expansion of urban transformer stations | Image: Adobe Stock (Image ID 1662469843), modified using AI

Exhibition TRANSFORMER

Master’s Projects on the Design, Integration, and Functional Expansion of Urban Transformer Stations

As part of the collaborative project "TRANSFORMER," architecture students from the Leipzig University of Applied Sciences (HTWK Leipzig), in cooperation with the City of Halle/Saale, have developed innovative designs to aesthetically enhance the rapidly growing number of urban transformer stations—essential elements of the energy supply—and to reimagine their functionality. The results showcase creative perspectives for sustainable urban development and the intersection of design, infrastructure, and added urban value. The projects were exhibited on 13 February 2026, at the Lernwerkstatt of Stadtwerke Halle in Halle (Saale). Special thanks go to Dr. Katja Nowak, Jork Winterfeld, and Andreas Rühl.

Student Projects

TRAFOHABITAT – With a focus on nature conservation, biodiversity and the urban water balance, the concept transforms existing transformer stations into green urban habitats that sustainably enrich urban greenery and public spaces with planted roofs and local supply options. | Nina Sprenger

Energy HUB – The design pursues the goal of freeing inconspicuous infrastructure objects in urban spaces from their existence as mere background objects and transforming them into social and sporting highlights. | Katharina Pönisch & Emily Seemann

TRAFOLOO – Under the motto "Infrastructure today, added value tomorrow", the concept transforms urban transformer stations into urgently needed public toilet facilities and thus upgrades purely functional buildings into places with new functional benefits for the urban space. | Nele Stuhr

RE:LOAD – The aim is to upgrade transformer stations, both aesthetically and functionally, by combining the standardisation of the stations with a modular add-on catalogue. | Lena Focken

NISCHE+ – A variable concept expands urban transformer stations with a flexible catalogue of modules to create customised functional niches that enhance the public space with integrated uses such as sheltered seating, planted exchange shelves and bicycle stations. | Majlie Ho & Sophia Raufeisen

GRIDLINK – A modular façade system based on the pegboard principle extends transformer stations with usable elements such as seating, greenery or e-bike charging stations and is characterised by its high degree of prefabrication. | Anne Michaelis & Jan Koch

TRAFOHOME – A mounted wooden system transforms urban transformer stations into habitable social infrastructure by providing living space in return for the maintenance of an integrated public toilet and an exchange cupboard, efficiently utilising the waste heat from the transformer for heating. | Luis Devantier

TRAFOX – Under the motto "Participation creates understanding, understanding creates acceptance", the concept transforms existing transformer stations through integrated uses such as table tennis or presentation areas. The residents' identification with the technical infrastructure is at the centre of the design. | Leon Heimer

COLOR POINTS – A modular system made of wood and luminous polycarbonate transforms transformer stations into colourful contact points that enrich public spaces with temporary uses, atmospheric night lighting and intelligent functions as "urban data points" for measuring environmental data. | Selina Reschke

BAUSTEIN DES LICHTS – By using illuminated glass blocks, compact and transformer stations are reinterpreted and transformed into modular focal points such as kiosks or book exchange boxes that atmospherically illuminate the public space. | Lilly Zeißig

BOXENSTOPP – The design transforms technical infrastructure into a socially activated neighbourhood space. A modular system of stackable cubes creates a spatial framing and functional extension of the transformer stations. | Leonard Müller

GEBRANNTE ENERGIE – New masonry shells transform walk-in transformer stations and compact stations into multifunctional urban building blocks. In this way, the energy supply is combined with mobility, service and neighbourhood offers in the public space. | Annika Kiehn & Eric Schladitz

STAMPFLEHMSTATION – A modular system made of sustainable rammed earth integrates the transformer stations and can be expanded to include additional services such as packing stations, charging infrastructure and seating. | Evelyne Kramer

Pflanzen_Pavillon – Embedded in a wooden skeleton structure and plant shelves, existing transformer stations are transformed into luminous urban greenhouses. These utilise the waste heat from the transformers and enrich the public space as green meeting points and swap meets. | Jule Narewski

VOLT:DECK – The design conceptualises the transformer station installed in the container as part of a circular modular system. By adding readymade elements and walk-on decks, the technical housing becomes an activated space carrier in the neighbourhood. | Jonas Pirkl

Project data

Project management
» Prof. Frank Hülsmeier, architect

Teaching assistance
» Stefan Huth, M. A. | Architect
» Adrian Heller, Dipl.-Ing. (FH) | Architect

Project participants of HTWK Leipzig
» Anne Michaelis
» Annika Kiehn
» Emily Seemann
» Eric Schladitz
» Evelyne Kramer
» Jan Koch
» Jonas Pirkl
» Jule Narewski
» Katharina Pönisch
» Lena Focken
» Leon Heimer
» Leonard Müller
» Lilly Zeißig
» Luis Devantier
» Majlie Ho
» Nele Stuhr
» Nina Sprenger
» Selina Reschke
» Sophia Raufeisen

Partners
» EVH GmbH (A company of the Stadtwerke Halle Group)
» Energieversorgung Halle Netz GmbH (A company of the Stadtwerke Halle Group)
» Abteilung Denkmalschutz der Stadt Halle/Saale

 

 

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