Seezugänge

Austria is rich in lakes; however, a large portion of the shores of the larger bathing lakes is either private or not publicly accessible for various reasons. Protests against the privatization and commercialization of shoreline areas, as well as initiatives advocating for public access and the preservation of nature reserves, are mostly local actions. Simultaneously, there are efforts to enshrine access to nature more strongly in state constitutions or spatial planning laws. What significance do lakes have as natural and recreational spaces? How have shoreline areas and their surroundings changed in terms of construction and spatial planning? What aspects does the topic of "lake access" encompass – from bathing areas and lakeside paths to the view of the lake; from the development of lakes to the drainage of wetlands in the lake surroundings, to consideration for other living beings such as aquatic creatures and birds? What legal and design options exist to find creative solutions for improving accessibility?

At a lake conference in Carinthia in September 2024, these questions are to be discussed in an interdisciplinary manner. An important part of the course is a summer academy at the Wiener Sängerknaben area in Sekirn am Wörthersee, planned from September 11 to 20, as part of the lake conference. Attendance at the summer academy is mandatory. The accommodation costs are approximately 220 EUR per person; travel to and within Carinthia as well as meals are to be organized independently.

A maximum of four places will be allocated to spatial planning students. The course is accompanied by contributions from various disciplines.

The design process is coupled with the course 260.862 Excursion "Lake Accesses." A crucial part of the design process is a project week from September 11 to 20 in Carinthia; participation is mandatory. Both courses take place within the annual theme of "Transformation of Existing Structures."

Source citation for the graphic:
© Float for your Rights, Peanutz Architekten
Radical Utopia: Wörthersee Communism, part of the research project "Semantical Reloading of the Wörthersee Region or Post-Tourism: New Opportunities for a Partially Declining Tourism Region"