Verknüpfen. Öffnen. Abkühlen.

The Vienna General Hospital (AKH) is one of the largest medical facilities in Europe—yet it forms an urban periphery within the inner-city context. Despite the high density of people, functions, and infrastructure, the hospital and its surroundings lack urban connectivity, quality of stay, and spatial permeability.

The aim of the course is to develop an integrative urban and landscape planning strategy that strengthens the hospital’s connection to its environment, enhances social and ecological qualities, and serves as a catalyst for a resilient and future-oriented urban fabric.

Building on an overarching urban analysis (scale 1:5000), specific sites are developed in greater detail (scale 1:500). Students independently set their priorities and identify strategically effective intervention points that actively enhance spatial, social, and climatic qualities.

Thematic Focus Areas:

• Spatial-programmatic potentials of ongoing urban transformations
  → e.g., temporary and pioneer uses, opening up the site

• User-centered perspectives
  → focus on neighborhoods and vulnerable groups (e.g., people with limited mobility, mentally ill individuals)

• Climate change adaptation through blue and green infrastructure
  → e.g., renaturation of the Alserbach, climate-active open spaces, heat-reducing interventions

• Low-tech – high-impact: strategies with high effectiveness and minimal resource use