Gera’s *Green Oasis* Transforms Youth Library with Student-Led Design
Gera’s city and regional library has unveiled a newly modernised youth section, known as the Green Oasis. The vibrant space, designed with input from local students, officially opened in May. Funding for the project included a €1,500 donation from Sparkasse Gera-Greiz, presented on National Reading Day in November 2025.
The project began with a collaborative effort between the library, the Youth Welfare Office, and an eighth-grade class. Students used 3D software to draft designs, which local artist Benjamin Rau later transformed into reality. An online survey with 453 participants shaped the final layout, prioritising bright colours, comfortable seating, modern media, greenery, and flexible workspaces.
On November 21, 2025, Dr. Hendrik Ziegenbein of Sparkasse Gera-Greiz handed over the donation check to the library’s friends’ association. Lord Mayor Kurt Dannenberg and library director Christina Martens attended the ceremony. The bank’s support aligned with its focus on economic education, while the Sparkassenstiftung Gera-Greiz enabled the funding. The finished Green Oasis now features beanbag chairs, study zones, and cozy reading nooks. Since its opening, the space has quickly become a favourite gathering spot for young visitors. Martens called the project a major success, noting that the library now offers an environment shaped by—and for—the city’s youth.
The youth library’s redesign was made possible through community collaboration and financial backing from Sparkasse Gera-Greiz. The space, tailored to young people’s preferences, has already drawn regular visitors. Its completion marks a tangible result of participatory planning and local investment.
