Starbase18

Circular mini village - for and by international students

6300-714 Guarda, Portugal

Makerspace Fab Lab School workshop Design & Innovation center Green Fab Lab Incubator Craftmen cooperative countryside

Space size 285 m²

Opened in September 2021

Structure type NGO

Explored in April 2021


Our space is still under construction. We are renovating our future makerspace but visits on-site are always possible. Renovation will start in 2021

Starbase18 is a continuous living lab for and by students to actually put the circular theory into practice. The lab, a circular mini village, will facilitate all sorts of activities and will play an active part in connecting, interacting and sharing with the local community. Local and international students are welcome. They can participate in educational modules, electives, internships, and residencies. The project is currently in progress and undergoing renovations, but expects to host students and makers soon!

Social networks

Main interests

Fashion & textile Technology - machines & tools Sports & outdoors Community Entrepreneurship Robotics Education Energy & environment Design Art & culture Software development Recycling & upcycling Food Agriculture Self-sufficiency Craftsmanship Do-it-yourself Sustainability Residency Makers Digital fabrication Inclusion Circular economy STEAM education

This workshop is great for:

Every single person & organisation!

Join our team

Student team Starbase18 offers students the possibility to work on projects in Portugal, in the Netherlands, and remotely online. Students can combine their study and work on available modules, internship positions, or just to volunteer. Educational courses will be offered for minors, electives, and keuzedeel from our partner colleges and universities.

Partner schools Starbase18 is eager to form partnerships with all levels of schools. This can be VET, technical colleges, bachelor colleges, universities, and more. With this partnership, schools can offer students the opportunity to have an international experience combined with their study program in a safe and approved setting. Schools can provide their own study modules or can utilize modules developed at Starbase18.

Government Do you want to help us build the circular economy? Any organization who is willing to invest time and interest is welcome to join our extensive network of partners. By joining as a member, you will have access to like-minded partners who would like to work on projects for the circular economy. By working together we can develop further and come up with innovative ideas that help everyone involved.

Companies Starbase18 would like to offer companies the opportunity to get involved in this project. Perhaps you have waste material that you would like to donate? Or you would like to donate financially? Maybe you want to send your employees to an exciting location to learn about sustainability and to engage in team-building activities. Whatever your desires are, we hope to help you achieve them.

Let’s start a conversation: If you would like to discuss opportunities to support our project and how we can work together to drive real change, send us an email.

Interview & guided tour

Meet someone from the team & discover the space by yourself!

Our workshop

Learn more about our space, members, machines & services!

We are excited to begin our living lab in Guarda Portugal. We are looking for interested people to help us achieve this dream.

We are planning on having many technologies in the near future.

We will be working within a large network and connecting with like-minded individuals and organizations who will help out dream come to life.

Starbase18 got its origins in 2018 with an Erasmus+ project from the Craft Your Future movement, which had the aim of letting students’ rediscover and re-evaluate (old) crafts and locally available materials by combining them with new technologies and methodologies. After the success of this project, Frank Kroondijk and Janneke Wittebol were excited for the prospect of providing this opportunity to more students who could experience the living lab in an international setting. Thus, began the planning for Starbase18.

SB18 is located in Meios Guarda, Portugal within the Serra da Estrela Mountains. “Quinta Das Novas Estrelas” translates to “The farm of the new (circular) stars”. Therefore, Starbase18 provides a creative space for students to work on circular ideas in the Mountains of the Stars. Furthermore, there are numerous activities to enjoy such as hiking, biking, swimming, and more. SB18 also strives to include the local community by involving them in various projects.

The Starbase property has 5 hectares of land with woodworking, iron, and 3D print workshops, as well as land to be used for gardening and agricultural projects. The property includes student and teacher housing, campsites, kitchens, and classrooms.,

Our team consists of a core team that works full time on the project and a group of students and professionals who are working on the project besides their other activities.

Founders

  • Frank Kroondijk
  • Janneke Wittebol

Interns

  • Brandi Crandell
  • Djoeke Graswinckel
  • Michelle Janssen
  • Thaise Theodora

We are currently building our community!

We are connecting with local municipalities, farmers, and universities in the region.

We are excited to begin our living lab in Guarda Portugal. We are looking for interested people to help us achieve this dream.

We are planning on having many technologies in the near future.

We will be working within a large network and connecting with like-minded individuals and organizations who will help out dream come to life.

Starbase18 got its origins in 2018 with an Erasmus+ project from the Craft Your Future movement, which had the aim of letting students’ rediscover and re-evaluate (old) crafts and locally available materials by combining them with new technologies and methodologies. After the success of this project, Frank Kroondijk and Janneke Wittebol were excited for the prospect of providing this opportunity to more students who could experience the living lab in an international setting. Thus, began the planning for Starbase18.

SB18 is located in Meios Guarda, Portugal within the Serra da Estrela Mountains. “Quinta Das Novas Estrelas” translates to “The farm of the new (circular) stars”. Therefore, Starbase18 provides a creative space for students to work on circular ideas in the Mountains of the Stars. Furthermore, there are numerous activities to enjoy such as hiking, biking, swimming, and more. SB18 also strives to include the local community by involving them in various projects.

The Starbase property has 5 hectares of land with woodworking, iron, and 3D print workshops, as well as land to be used for gardening and agricultural projects. The property includes student and teacher housing, campsites, kitchens, and classrooms.,

Our team consists of a core team that works full time on the project and a group of students and professionals who are working on the project besides their other activities.

Founders

  • Frank Kroondijk
  • Janneke Wittebol

Interns

  • Brandi Crandell
  • Djoeke Graswinckel
  • Michelle Janssen
  • Thaise Theodora

We are currently building our community!

We are connecting with local municipalities, farmers, and universities in the region.

Technologies & processes available

Wood working tools

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