Real lab and demonstrator eHUB
Chair of Design and Urban Development
Project description Real lab and demonstrator eHUB
Acronym eHUB
Coordination LOEWE Centre emergenCITY Office
Project content
The eHUB mission is part of the LOEWE Center emergenCITY. At its core is the former Solar Decathlon House from 2009, which will, under its new name eHUB, be used as a living lab and demonstrator. After 1.5 years, the renovation—planned and carried out by the Department of Design and Urban Development with the involvement of students from Faculty 15—has been completed.

Through structural refurbishment, technical extensions, and subsequent operation, central questions of crisis preparedness for the scenario of a prolonged, large-scale power outage are being investigated.

In eHUB, the aim is, on the one hand, to test technical solutions that will enable owners of photovoltaic systems to quickly establish an autonomous emergency supply in the event of a crisis. On the other hand, concepts are being developed to use buildings like the Solar Decathlon House to serve the needs of all citizens. As part of its role as a demonstrator, the house will be regularly open to the public, making research tangible and accessible.

However, the mission is not only about dealing with crises themselves, but also about preparing for them. To this end, the Department of Design and Urban Development is developing a serious game in which the player takes on the role of an eHUB resident and is confronted with the conditions of a power outage. The goal of eHUBgaming is to impart knowledge about the blackout crisis scenario. In 2023, the game will be thoroughly tested and subsequently evaluated.
Participants Chair of Design and Urban Development
Duration 2020-2023
Funding LOEWE
Project website https://www.emergencity.de/missions/ehub/