In Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, the NEXT vocational school sits at the heart of a district marked by strong traditions of craftsmanship, but also by socio-economic challenges and a lack of structured opportunities for its youth. As part of an ongoing urban renewal plan, efforts are being made to open up the school’s closed campus to the surrounding community, a move that reflects a broader shift in how educational institutions are expected to engage with society.  

 Community in the Making responds to this moment of transformation by reimagining an existing, introverted campus building as a public condenser: a hybrid space where vocational knowledge is made accessible to the wider community. The building provides a platform for students and local craftspeople to host workshops, exhibitions, events, and informal learning activities centred around craft.   

The project addresses the wider challenges of declining vocational enrolment and the evolving role of educational institutions, seeking to move beyond the traditional model of schools as isolated gatekeepers of knowledge, and envisions a future where learning is more accessible, communal, and integrated into urban life.   

Architecturally, the design emphasizes flexibility, hybridity, and user agency, allowing the space to shift between school-related activities during school hours and community-facing programs after hours, on weekends, and during holidays. By building a community around craft, the project promotes vocational pathways, supports youth engagement, and contributes to the reconstruction of Bispebjerg’s identity as a place of creativity and craft.