“(…) infrastructures also exist as forms separate from their purely technical functioning, (…)They emerge out of and store within them forms of desire and fantasy and can take on fetish-like aspects that sometimes can be wholly autonomous from their technical function. Focusing on the issue of form, or the poetics of infrastructure, allows us to understand how the political can be constituted through different means.’”– Brian Larkin, The Politics and Poetics of Infrastructure 2013
A public bathing area is to be created at the confluence of the Wien River and the Danube Canal near the Urania, and the adjacent bank is to be landscaped. In contrast to existing public swimming facilities in Vienna, which are separated from the urban space by a wall, the bathing area is to be designed as part of the urban context and the existing buildings are to be included in the planning.
The site is to be developed holistically, with access to the river bank improved by means of stairways or an additional pedestrian jetty, and the riverside promenade landscaped. In addition, the existing facilities are to be expanded to include the space required for the bathing area.
The aim of the design is to integrate the site on the Danube Canal more closely into city life through targeted structural interventions.
STARTING POINT
Vienna’s urban fabric is characterised by numerous infrastructural construction projects.
As technical structures, they are a central element of urban development and an integral part of good coexistence in densely built-up areas. Beyond their technical function, they shape the urban space and influence the cultural identity of the city. As long as infrastructures function, they are hardly perceived in daily use. They are constantly being transformed and upgraded to meet the changing demands of the times:
Vienna’s city wall was constantly adapted due to the growing importance of the city and, in addition to its protective function, also regulated the city’s economy and accessibility. When it was demolished around the turn of the century, Vienna’s largest boulevard was built with the construction of the Ringstrasse, which, in addition to its function, is still a major tourist attraction today. With the rapid population growth around the turn of the century, the construction of the city railway, which enabled the suburbs to be connected, was a decisive step for public transport and the expansion of the city. Today it is part of the modern underground network and the city railway arches are known for their lively nightlife.
To protect against flooding, the course of the Danube was extensively regulated twice, thus also making the banks usable. The construction of the Danube Island created the largest recreational area in Vienna.
The Danube Canal was already created in the 12th century as an artificial arm of the Danube. Originally used as a shipping lane, the canal played an important role in Vienna’s history of trade and transport. The connection from the Danube to the city center enabled the transport of goods and contributed to the economic development of the city.
Since the late 19th century, the canal has been used for recreation, and boats developed specifically for bathing allowed people to swim in the canal without being able to see where they were going. Due to deteriorating water quality, the boats disappeared after the Second World War and the increasing volume of private traffic along the canal made it more difficult to integrate it into city life. Since then, various concepts have been developed to strengthen the Danube Canal as a recreational area in the city. Studies such as the Donaukanal Partitur or activist groups like the Schwimmverein Donaukanal show the importance of preserving the Donaukanal as a free space for the urban population.
Methoden:
ANALYSIS PHASE
In the first few weeks, important Viennese infrastructures are examined. On the one hand, they are analysed in the context of the city’s history, understood as technical structures and explored as living space by means of photo documentation and map analyses (mappings) as well as empirical field research. The results are compiled in a workshop and visually processed as a basis for the design.
PROJECT PHASE
The projects are developed on the basis of this extensive analysis of the existing situation. In addition to the graphical development of the project, a particular focus is on spatial development using a model. Furthermore, by dealing with different scales, from urban morphology to the composition of specific structures, to the materialisation and development of construction in detail, the aim is to understand and apply architecture as a multi-layered discipline in all dimensions.
INTEGRATIVE DESIGN
As an integrative design, the course is based on an examination of architecture as a spatial, social, constructive and building-physical-ecological phenomenon. In doing so, the main focus of the design should also be considered in relation to the surrounding open space and the existing landscape. Furthermore, the design should be formulated at all scales.
Lecturers:
Wilfried Kuehn
Eldar Hajderavić
Lisi Zeininger
Peter Bauer
further information:
Kick-off: Thu, March 6th, 2025, 2pm – 4pm, in Projektraum STB 5/260, Hauptgebäude, Stiege 7, TU Wien
Meetings every thursday 2pm – 7pm.