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GRAND HALL & A SERIES OF ROOMS
VU Gebäudelehre
EXHIBITION & AWARD CEREMONY
THU, 29.1.2026, 18:00 – TVFA-HALLE, TU WIEN

VU Gebäudelehre 2025/26 examines how architecture increasingly shapes urban public infrastructure in the context of the ongoing ecological crisis. The course focuses on designing a Community Laboratory – a contemporary, resilient public typology that meets the needs of urban communities both now and in the future, on a specific site.

Architectural typologies are rethought through the lens of resilience, focusing on designing specific spatial structures capable of accommodating a multiplicity of current and future programs. Emphasis is placed on notable typologies that can absorb radical programmatic shifts over time, extending buildings' life cycles and combating the demolition culture. Resilient Typologies are an ecological strategy where building structure plays an integral role.

As architects operating within the climate crisis, we must confront our practice’s undeniable environmental impact and question the ethics of the construction sector. We must recognize the urgent demands of the ecological crisis in every design challenge. Our current GBL ecological position embraces the principles of anti-demolition, adaptive reuse, as well as material circularity, and experimenting with local resources and waste streams. This leads us to the pivotal question: Should we continue constructing new buildings? And if so, how should we approach the design and construction of these resilient typologies?

The aim is to design a space that embodies these principles, responding to the multi-layered urban context while standing out as a resilient, performative, beautiful, and ethically responsible solution to contemporary challenges. Let’s embark on this journey together to develop a community space that resonates with today and tomorrow's needs.

Grand Hall & Series of Rooms
The design studio will prioritize minimizing environmental harm through long-lasting, resilient architecture that ensures distinct qualities of spaces, allowing them to adapt to both present and future needs. The Community Laboratory is envisioned as a polyvalent space that becomes a catalyst for social interaction, knowledge exchange, cultural enrichment, and sustainable urban development. More than just a physical structure, it will serve as a dynamic hub where culture, sports, education, and production converge, fostering new ways for the community to engage and interact. At the core of the spatial organization is a grand hall, which will serve as the focal point for large-scale events and gatherings. This hall will be complemented by a versatile system of rooms for smaller, more intimate, or specialized uses. The layout should encourage movement and interaction while allowing for quiet reflection, study, and production.

How can we create a new architecture that minimizes its environmental impact and actively supports community and planetary well-being?

gbl.tuwien.ac.at