After successful completion of the course, students are able to understand the complex processes of a design task from the field of architecture and to apply them in their own design by developing independent approaches to solutions, structured in clear sub-steps.

Globalised life is determined by the extensive network of motorways and the associated transport of vital goods.  According to ASFINAG statistics from May 2024, 74,000 motor vehicles pass the Altlengbach measuring point on the A1 West motorway every day. 12 thousand of these are heavy goods vehicles with a total weight of over 3.5 tonnes.  

The drivers of these lorries drive together, often in convoys, one behind the other. Alone and lonely, spending the day in their driver's cab. Together, forced by the ban on weekend and public holiday driving in Austria, they spend the weekend parked at rest areas, where they again spend most of their time alone in their vehicles.  A social group that is marginalised and exploited and has long since forfeited its reputation as "King of the Road".

"In a world in which more and more people are affected by social and ecological inequality, wars and disasters, architecture must redefine its social relevance."  To what extent do art and culture make it possible to oppose a way of life characterised by pure functionality? "Anyone who listens to music experiences the lightness of being, anyone who reads a good novel sinks into it, anyone who looks at a beautiful painting embarks on an emotional journey. Christoph Thun-Hohenstein, following the sociologist Hartmut Rosa, calls such an echo "resonance"." 

The aim of the design studio is to develop a cultural rest area - a place of art and culture, as an antithesis to the one-dimensional rest areas. With a multi-dimensional offer, visitors are to be given exciting opportunities to interrupt their usual daily routine of parking and resting and the associated routine. According to Olafur Eliasson, the aim is to "create a space for coexistence between everyone," a space for a community, a space that is simultaneously conducive to relaxation and provides an emotional, spiritual balance.

Based on the analyses on the topics of motorway service areas, art and cultural mediation and the building site, concepts are developed within the framework of the topics "traffic construction", "cultural construction" and "spatial sketching". These are further developed through precise spatial refinements and almost exclusively on the basis of models in different scales, supporting the design. The design process will be accompanied by in-depth analyses of the topics in workshops and lectures

As integrativ design studio, the course is based on the examination of architecture as a spatial, social, cultural, constructive and physical-ecological phenomenon. The design should be based on monolithic construction, i.e. homogeneous solid construction made of wood, stone, concrete, brick or clay, whose architectural potential is explored and applied from a constructive, ecological and spatial perspective.

Timetable

You can find a detailed timetable as a PDF under Documents

Meetings every Monday and Thursday at TU Wien.    

Thu 03.10.2024 10:00h Introduction

Thu 25/11/2024 9:00h Concept presentation

Thu 16/12/2024 9:00h Midterm critique 

Thu 30.01.2025 12:00h Submission of all partial performances            

Mon 10/02/2025 9:00h Last repeat examination /  Documentation and review

The design process begins with short tasks, accompanying lectures, basic analyses and in-depth workshops and subtasks. The design is mainly developed on a model, starting with the urban planning scale through to the detailed scale. The design is presented in the form of plans and presentation models. A final digital documentation completes the task.

Examination-immanent courses require active participation in the twice-weekly meetings. Attendance at meetings and presentations is compulsory. Assigned subtasks are documented in RG-Share and on a Miro-Board. The design is submitted as an analogue presentation. A comprehensive presentation of the project by means of plans, a booklet and models is expected. The documentation of the project includes an analogue and digital form. Participation in publications and exhibitions is a prerequisite.

Due to their thematic conception and specific, progressive organisation of the design work, the partial achievements of this course are exempt from the possibility of repeating partial achievements.

Minimum requirements:               

- Explanation of the design idea by means of sketches, collages ...

- Black plan M 1:2000

- Site plan / open space planning M 1:500 Roof plan view

- Design plans M 1:200 Floor plans, sections, elevations

- Detailed plan M 1:50 Facade section

- Booklet A3, with all partial steps and plans

- Model M 1:500 

- Model M 1:200 

- 1 detailed model M 1:25, and model photos

- and the previously submitted plans

- Oral presentation