After successful completion of the course, students are able to appreciate the complexity and relevance of urban systems and to develop urban design approaches accordingly. One focus if the course is on the idea of the city of short distances. This leads to the question of which infrastructural components are relevant in current “everyday life” and in which spatial distances they should be located.
In this course, students will develop spatial visions for the transformation of “Transdanubia” (i.e. the districts of Floridsdorf and Donaustadt). Starting from the network of historical linear settlements (Straßen- and Angerdöfer) new ribbon and mesh structures are to be created to re-characterize Vienna’s urban fabric on the left bank of the Danube.
Popular concepts, such as Carlos Moreno’s “15-minute city” mainly work in dense, consolidated urban areas. To be applicable also in peripheral zones of cities with connections to the surrounding countryside, adapted concepts and spatial models are needed to achieve the same qualities (see reference to research project). How can a city of short distances be implemented in urban peripheries? How can new local centers with appropriate infrastructures and the largest possible catchment areas be designed? How can as many residents as possible benefit from it without relying on individual motorized transport?
The historical structures of linear villages (like Kagran, Leopoldau and Aspern) are interesting and relevant examples in the planning area – keywords: linearity, network, distances, infrastructures. These village structures were crystallization points for the urban transformation of Transdanubia in the 19th and 20th century and can still be recognized in in the cityscape today. The network of agglomerations of linear villages will form the framework and starting point for the design approaches.
This course is designed as research-led teaching. Party of the students’ intensive analysis will be incorporated into further research processes. In addition to the cooperation with the research project mentioned below, the design studio is also held in connection with the seminar Core - Ribbon - Mesh: Viennese Villages in Transdanubia (the two courses can be attended independently!). In November and January, a joint two-day workshop will take place where participants of both courses will discuss and exchange findings.
This course is designed in cooperation with the "Driving Urban Transitions" research project EMC2 - The Evolutive Meshed Compact City. A pragmatic transition pathway to the 15-minute City for European metropolitan peripheries.
Symposium (cooperativer workshop) 23.-24.11.2023
Final-Symposium 25.-26.01.2024
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