# The NEPTUNE Maribor SoundScape promenade Winners!

> NEPTUNE 2022 Maribor SoundScape Promenade was held in 5–14 May and The Winner is “Fountain of Knowledge”.

## Winning Team: Fountain of Knowledge
*   **Coach:** Prof. Dr. Peter Schwehr (HSLU Lucerne, Switzerland)
*   **Students:**
    *   Aapo Wihersaari (Finland)
    *   Iban Bikowski (NL)
    *   Jakob Dugonik (Slovenia)
    *   Maja Kukovicic (Slovenia)
    *   Mihael Novak (Croatia)
    *   Selina Rea Widmer (Switzerland)

## Project Overview
The challenge is jointly conducted by Savonia University of Applied Sciences in Kuopio, Finland and Jarkko Surakka, project leader for NEPTUNE (Network for Environmental Projects United in Europe). NEPTUNE is an intensive programme for selected top-level students from four esteemed partner institutions located in Finland, Slovenia, Switzerland and Holland.

For this challenge, six teams of five students aimed to alleviate the problem of private spaces being favoured for arts investment, which reduces the public’s access to many creative works. Under the guidance of experienced mentors, including experts from Genelec, each team created an outdoor roofed-stage design intended for one of three areas in Maribor. The goal was to show building owners and developers that refocussing investment on outside areas can increase public engagement, nurture local community spirit, and encourage diversity, while incorporating sustainable materials to minimise environmental impact.

## The Winning Concept: Fountain of Knowledge
From the closed house of the university and the park that is only used as a transit route, an open knowledge landscape is emerging that is networking with the rest of the world. Symbolically, the formerly disused fountain on the square becomes a reactivated contact point for those thirsty for knowledge. 

The interventions in the park are minimal and oriented towards a fixed and spontaneous concept of use throughout all four seasons. Individuals can obtain specific information via loudspeakers integrated in a bench or on a billboard. Flexible furniture allows settings in various group sizes up to entire festivals of up to 500 people on site. All events are designed to be broadcast around the world, promoting knowledge sharing and networking.

## Jury Decision
The jury praised the social relevance of the idea, the minimal spatial interventions, and the respectful treatment of the site. True to the motto "Less is more," the project provides a platform for knowledge exchange and networking. The group developed specific proposals for using the space without prescribing the programme, resulting in a resilient spatial concept where spontaneous appropriation and adaptation are possible. The jury was highly convinced by the coherent storytelling and the seriousness of the concept, which sparked intense discussions about the future contribution of schools and universities to a better world.

## Partner Institutions
*   Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Finland
*   University of Maribor, Slovenia
*   Hochschule Luzern Technik und Architectur, Switzerland
*   NHL University of Applied Sciences, Holland

## Contact
For more information about the NEPTUNE project, please contact project leader Jarkko Surakka at [jarkko.surakka@savonia.fi](mailto:jarkko.surakka@savonia.fi).