The Brigittenauer Bridge Stage
– A Space for Art and Culture on the Danube
– From an Infrastructure Structure to an Urban Living Space.
The Brigittenauer Bridge is becoming a testing ground: What was once purely an infrastructure structure is being transformed into a vibrant place for art, culture, leisure, and social interaction.
At the heart of the project is the bridge’s transformation into a multi-layered public space—from the water’s surface to the roadway. New spatial interventions such as walkways, platforms, and “floating islands” create connections between the city and the Danube and open up new perspectives on Vienna.
A system of follies—striking architectural interventions—structures the space as a sequence of places: meeting spots, stages, markets, quiet retreats, and consumption-free zones. The bridge becomes a stage for urban life—day and night.
As part of the “Transversale Brigittenau,” the project combines urban density with landscape spaces and reimagines the Danube as a central urban space.
The goal is a radically reimagined public space that:
* Connects infrastructure and recreational areas
* Blends culture, leisure, and everyday life
* Integrates ecological, social, and spatial qualities
Methods:
The design process is structured to be experimental, exploratory, and practice-oriented:
* Analysis & Research: On-site investigations, mapping, reference projects
* Concept Development: Formulation of an independent spatial program
* Design at Various Scales: From urban planning (1:500) to detail (1:20)
* Model-Based Work: Development using physical models
* Iterative Process: Regular reviews, feedback, and further development
Collaboration and Practical Relevance
The studio functions as a real-world laboratory: Through dialogue with local stakeholders, initiatives, and institutions, real-world requirements, conflicts, and potential are brought to light.
Students work collaboratively to develop projects with social relevance.
Specializations: Scenography, Construction, and Open Space
* Scenography: Spatial dramaturgy, atmosphere, lighting
* Construction: Structural systems, materials, joints
* Landscape: Climate, biodiversity, open-space strategies
The focus is on developing a multifaceted usage scenario:
* Overlapping elements of culture, leisure, movement, and recreation
* Design of load-bearing structures and spatial interventions
* Integration of climate-resilient open-space strategies
The bridge becomes a prototype for the transformation of urban infrastructures.
Lecturer:
Anton Kottbauer
Günter Pichler
Kamyar Tavoussi
Eldar Hajdarevic
Tutor:
Lena Werle
Further Information:
Kickoff: Thu, October 1st, 2026, 10.00 am, in Seminarraum AC02-1, with a field trip.
Meetings are held every Thursday at TU Wien, Room AC03_1 or by appointment.