1980s Original Project Campus Artcampus for Academy of Fine Arts and Design (Architect Kuzma)

Partially Completed in 1988 (Atelier Building)

Competition for the Art Campus Development, for the new Technological Pavilion, Student Residence with Dining Hall and Academic Building (Competition Entry by SLLA)

Existing Atelier Building

Due to significant technical deficiencies, poor energy performance, and the need to provide a contemporary and high-quality learning environment, a comprehensive technical and energy assessment of the existing building was carried out. Additional studies evaluated the structural condition, fire safety, daylight performance, acoustics, building services, electrical systems, and energy efficiency.

The audits identified severe deterioration of the roof and façade, including glazing systems in critical condition, while the building envelope, heating, and lighting systems no longer meet current standards. The building was classified in the lowest energy category, and the assessments concluded that a comprehensive renovation is necessary to improve safety, reduce energy consumption, and enhance indoor environmental quality.

The project of the Renovation of the Existing building also responds to the needs of the Academy of Fine Arts and Design by upgrading educational facilities and creating additional shared spaces. A new covered atrium will connect the existing building blocks and provide a multifunctional space for communication, study, and social interaction.

Two Parks

The southern green entrance space, opening to the city, and the informal northern landscape, opening towards the Carpathian Mountains, define the future building block, including the existing Atelier Building, within the Art Campus of the Academy of Fine Arts and Design.

Renovation of the Existing Atelier Building

The renovation of the existing main building includes the reconfiguration of the floor plans on all retained levels, comprising the entrance level, the basement, the first and second floors, as well as the addition of new third and fourth floors replacing the original rooftop extension. The project also introduces a glazed roof over the atrium between the southern and northern wings of the existing building.

Programme
Department of Digital Arts
Department of Design
Department of Photography and New Media
Department of Graphic Arts and Other Media
Department of Intermedia
Department of Drawing
Department of Conservation and Restoration
Department of Sculpture, Object and Installation
Department of Textile Art
Department of Glass Art
Department of Ceramic Art
Department of Jewellery Art
Department of Visual Communication
Facilities Management
Centre for Education and Presentation

Total Gross Floor Area 16 000 m²

Technological Pavilion

The technological pavilion forms the technical and operational backbone of the school. It houses workshop and production facilities that support the educational process across the entire campus.
It ensures efficient movement of materials and products within the building and towards the existing school building, with which it is interconnected on all levels.

Programme
Wood and Stone Processing Centre
Metal Casting, Cutting and Welding Centre
Surface Finishing Centre
Model-Making Centre
Textile Printing, Dyeing and Processing Centre
Audiovisual Production Centre
2D and 3D Printing Centre
Photography Processing Centre
Metal Casting, Cutting and Welding Centre
Facilities Management

Total Gross Floor Area 7 400 m²

Student Residence with Dining Hall

The student residence provides accommodation for 208 students and catering services for both students and staff.

Total Gross Floor Area 8 700 m²

Academic Building

Programme
Aula, Lecture rooms
Department of Theory and History of Art
Academic Library
Rector's Office and Administration
Department of Painting
Department of Architecture

Total Gross Floor Area 15 600 m²

Technological Pavilion Hall

A multifunctional industrial hall equipped with an overhead crane, designed as an extension of the school's technological centers and workshop facilities. It provides flexible space for fabrication, prototyping, and large-scale production, while also accommodating presentations, exhibitions, meetings, lectures, and public events. By combining advanced technical infrastructure with adaptable public use, the pavilion supports both creative experimentation and collaboration across the academic community.

Existing Atelier Building Covered Atrium

The project transforms the space between the existing building blocks into a new covered central atrium, creating the primary social and communication hub of the school. The former roof above the workshops becomes an accessible roof terrace overlooking the atrium, while the newly enclosed space provides a flexible environment for everyday interaction and major academic events.

The project transforms the space between the existing building blocks into a new covered central atrium, creating the primary social and communication hub of the school. The former roof above the workshops becomes an accessible roof terrace overlooking the atrium, while the newly enclosed space provides a flexible environment for everyday interaction and major academic events.

The enclosed atrium also acts as a climate buffer zone. A naturally driven ventilation system uses the stack effect during spring, summer, and autumn: fresh air is introduced through ventilation inlets in the staircases and along the north and south façades, while warm air is exhausted through openings in the roof. During summer, the atrium is shaded and cooled with night ventilation to reduce heat gains. In winter, the ventilation inlets are closed, minimizing infiltration and heat loss and allowing the atrium to operate as a thermally protected intermediate space.

Academic Building Central Hall

The Central Hall forms the heart of the Academic Building, connecting the existing blocks through a system of inhabited ramps and circulation spaces on both sides. At its center, the Academic Library acts as the building’s main meeting point and intellectual hub, complemented by the Aula and lecture rooms that support teaching, public events, and academic exchange.

The building brings together key educational and administrative functions, including the Department of Theory and History of Art, the Department of Architecture, the Academic Library, and the Rector’s Office and Administration. Designed to encourage interaction and collaboration, the Central Hall creates a vibrant environment for study, discussion, and everyday campus life.

Student Residence Courtyard

Student rooms are organized into small residential clusters that share common living spaces and are connected through semi-open circulation areas facing the courtyard. This layered arrangement creates a gradual transition from private rooms to shared spaces and the collective life of the residence.

Open to the sky and accessible from every floor, the courtyard provides a place for meeting, studying, relaxing, and informal interaction. By bringing daylight, air, and greenery into the center of the building, it fosters a strong sense of community while offering a calm and welcoming environment for everyday student life.

Existing Outdoor Space Between the Building Blocks of the Atelier Building

Proposed Covered Space Between the Building Blocks as Part of the Renovation of the Existing Atelier Building

The existing roof above the workshops is transformed into an accessible roof terrace forming the central atrium. This intervention creates a new circulation route as well as a shared social and gathering space for students, faculty, and visitors. The atrium serves as the school's principal communal space, accommodating exhibitions, installations, presentations, consultations, matriculation ceremonies, graduation ceremonies, and informal everyday activities.

Natural Ventilation Strategy
Enclosing the atrium creates a buffer zone that improves the building's environmental performance. The atrium operates in two ventilation modes.
Spring, Summer and Autumn
The ventilation system operates on the stack effect. Fresh air is supplied through ventilation ducts located above the ceilings of each stairwell on the entrance level and the first floor, along the northern and southern façades. During summer, the atrium is cooled by night-time ventilation. In the morning, as the outdoor air temperature begins to rise, the ventilation ducts are closed to prevent warm air from entering the atrium. At the same time, the atrium is protected from direct solar radiation by an external shading system.

Warm air is exhausted through ventilation openings integrated into the glazed roof.

Winter
During the winter months, the ventilation ducts remain closed to minimise air infiltration. In this closed operating mode, the atrium functions as a thermally buffered space, reducing heat loss and improving the overall energy performance of the building.

Extension of the Existing Building

As the existing roof structure is in poor technical condition, it will be completely removed. All internal partition walls and floor constructions will also be demolished.

The reinforced concrete columns and the steel gallery structure will be retained and reused as part of the new extension.

The ateliers and their gallery spaces are arranged along the external façades, while circulation is integrated into the central atrium. The existing transverse connection between the two building wings is extended at both ends by new access galleries, creating a continuous circulation route.

Existing Access Road Along the North Façade

Proposed Informal Park on the Northern Side

The northern landscape forms a natural, informal green space with views towards the Carpathian Mountains. It extends from the façade-level outdoor areas of the academic departments at ground level, through a shared central zone, towards an open pergola structure intended for external activities, and further to the edge of the site above the residential development on the western side.

Existing Outdoor Space on the Southern Side

Proposed Entrance Park on the Southern Side

The southern green space extends along Drotárska Road, forming part of the landscape structure defined by the spatial plan and the surrounding deciduous vegetation zone.
The design combines pathways, permeable surfaces, and planted areas into a continuous public landscape. At its highest point, the space connects directly to the main southern entrance, forming a shared arrival area for the building.

A stepped park landscape with lawns, mature trees, and installations creates a layered outdoor environment for exhibition, relaxation, and informal use. Along the street edge, the park gradually transitions into a more natural landscape character.

Stormwater is integrated into the design through rain gardens, swales, and infiltration areas, supporting a resilient and environmentally responsive landscape system.

Activities

Knowledge-Based Economy related to Siemens' Research fields: Energy, Industry, Infrastructure, Health Care and the relevant: Information and Communication Technology sector, Services, Knowledge Centers.

A mix of the functions from surrounding areas is inserted between the monofunctional urban structures of the new development areas. Knowledge-Based Economy related to Siemens' Research works as a main cluster of activities with a clearly defined character. The other functions - housing, offices, facilities, etc. are an obvious component.

Organizations involved in KBE activities in the area and development process: Companies, Institutions, Universities, Technology Centers, Incubators.

Large/Extra large
(Siemens)

Medium, Small

inside of the new development
catalyzer of the new activities in the area

Streetscape

Parks, Greenery, Trees, Squares, Plazas, Streets, Curbs, Walkways.

A strong public space plan is inserted into the fragmented urban structure - central parks and open public spaces are a starting point for creating a surrounding dense structure.

Cluster / Streetscape on Siemensäcker

The proposed urban fabric is defined through the combination of compatible uses. Balance is sought within mixture and diversity, from the perspective of both urban form and activity. A system plan for public space is inserted into the fragmented urban structure. Central parks and open public spaces are a starting point for the creation of a dense surrounding structure. The software and hardware are divided: Cluster as a system for organising activities and Streetscape for the physical environment of parks, greenery, trees, squares, plazas, streets, and walkways. Urban and social continuity and cohesion will be achieved more by complementarity than by uniform elements. The proposed scheme is open to future needs, while maintaining stable quality.

Cluster / Streetscape

The overall landscape strategy of the project is to introduce strips of landscape at several locations in the surroundings, strategic site 84 ha, project site 30 ha.

This landscape approach facilitates a strategy of creating structure and identity without too many restrictions on built development along the landscaped strips. The project is highly adaptable, and offers stable qualities through a certain robustness.

Mixed Subsidized and Market-Rate Housing Development in Siemensäcker

Masterplan Siemensäcker, project site 8 ha, 85.000 m², GFA 120.000 m², 1 200 Residential Units
Client: City of Vienna MA21, Sozialbau AG

Interdisciplinary collaborating planning process, Partners: ABP, Madrid / DnD Landschaftsplanung, Vienna / Idealice Landschaftsplanung, Vienna / Soyka-Silber-Soyka Architekten, Vienna / ss plus Architektur, Vienna / Rosinak & Partner, Vienna / Studiovlay, Vienna

Public housing, amenities, schools, kindergartens, central park, car-free zone, the "urban kilometre" connects the active areas on the ground floor in order to create vibrant urban quarter.

11 Urban Blocks, Sozialbau AG, Neuland, Urbanbau, Wohnbau, EGW, ARE, Imove, 10 Architecture Practices

Central Park

The central green park forms the heart of the neighbourhood, providing a continuous landscape for recreation, play, and everyday social life. Designed for all age groups, it accommodates a variety of activities ranging from quiet relaxation and walking to children's play and informal sports, creating the primary public open space of the development.
With a width of approximately 50 metres, the park is conceived as a coherent, uninterrupted green landscape enriched by extensive tree planting, particularly along the edge facing the employment area and Leopoldine-Padaurek-Straße. Free from fences, private open spaces, and vehicular traffic, it offers generous seating, play, and sports facilities. The surrounding ground floors are slightly elevated to ensure privacy for residents while maintaining an active and conflict-free relationship between the buildings and the park.

Urban streets

Urban streets form the pedestrian network of the neighbourhood, linking the central boulevard with the existing residential areas and creating a sequence of lively public spaces. They concentrate the entrances to the residential buildings and activate the ground floors through shared community spaces, encouraging everyday encounters, social interaction, and a strong sense of safety through active street life.
With a generous width of 18 metres, the streets accommodate tree planting, seating, bicycle parking, and a variety of spaces for different user groups. Free from fences and private open spaces, they remain fully public and accessible while integrating the infrastructure required for emergency and service vehicles without compromising the quality of the landscape.

Neighbourhood Squares

Neighbourhood squares form the social centres of the residential blocks, providing pedestrian connections to the housing and public buildings while creating welcoming arrival spaces at the building entrances. Defined by generous planting, seating, and active ground-floor community spaces, they encourage everyday interaction and strengthen the sense of neighbourhood.
The sequence of squares creates a gradual transition from the more urban public spaces along Leopoldine-Padaurek-Straße to the greener, more intimate residential streets further south. With widths of 24 to 28 metres, the squares provide flexible spaces for community life while remaining largely free from vehicular traffic. Bicycle parking and carefully integrated landscape design reinforce their role as attractive, pedestrian-oriented public spaces.

Cross-connections

Cross-connections link the residential buildings through a sequence of green pedestrian spaces, creating a gradual transition from the more urban neighbourhood squares in the north to quieter, landscape-oriented residential streets in the south. They provide entrances to the housing, activate the ground floor with community facilities, and offer spaces for everyday recreation, play, and social interaction.
With widths of 18-20 metres, these landscaped connections accommodate mature tree planting, community gardens, tenant gardens, seating, bicycle parking, and children's play areas. The coordinated landscape design across opposing development plots creates a coherent public realm while maintaining flexibility for residential use. Emergency access is carefully integrated to preserve the pedestrian character and continuity of the green spaces.

Residential Courtyards

Building-related open spaces extend the living environment beyond the residential buildings, providing a diverse range of outdoor areas for relaxation, play, and everyday activities. Ground-floor apartments benefit from carefully designed transition zones with private gardens, while shared outdoor spaces support community life and informal interaction. Dedicated open spaces for the school and kindergarten are fully integrated into the landscape concept, creating safe and stimulating environments for learning and recreation.

The open spaces accommodate a variety of uses, from quiet seating areas to playgrounds for different age groups, while preserving sufficient soil depth for mature tree planting. Bicycle parking is integrated throughout the development, and the outdoor areas for the school and kindergarten provide generous spaces for play, learning, shade, and outdoor activities within a cohesive landscape framework.

Green Edge

The neighbourhood is framed by a natural green edge that forms a landscape buffer between the existing residential areas and the new development. A continuous pedestrian and cycling route runs through this green corridor, connecting the neighbourhood to the surrounding districts, public transport, and the wider cycling network, including the Siemensstraße-Leopoldauer Straße route.

The landscape preserves the majority of the existing mature trees, including the poplar avenue leading to the sports grounds. Approximately 15 metres wide along most of its length, the green belt provides generous recreational spaces with meadows, seating areas, and informal places for relaxation. Free from fences and fully accessible to the public, it creates a continuous ecological and recreational landscape. The design carefully protects the existing vegetation while accommodating essential infrastructure and ensuring emergency vehicle access where required.

Leopoldine-Padaurek-Straße

A central urban boulevard forms the primary pedestrian and cycling spine of the neighbourhood, connecting it to the surrounding districts, public transport, and the wider cycling network. While a local access street provides access to the collective parking garages, it is designed without through traffic, prioritising pedestrians and cyclists. The boulevard also creates the main arrival sequence for the school, kindergarten, and neighbourhood services, while allowing for the future integration of a public bus route.
With a minimum width of 19.5 metres, the space accommodates a variety of public activities, particularly at the intersections with the central park and the neighbourhood streets, where playgrounds, youth spaces, and informal gathering areas are located. A continuous row of trees defines the boulevard and frames views towards the employment area, while ground-floor community spaces activate the public realm. Free from fences and private open spaces, the boulevard remains fully accessible and inclusive, with seating, integrated infrastructure, and access for emergency and service vehicles carefully coordinated within the landscape design.

Green Corridors to the River

The riverside landscape, with its mature greenery, is connected to the city through a network of green corridors woven between the proposed buildings. Car-free open spaces create a rich variety of places for recreation, social interaction, and everyday life, ensuring that the new development becomes a link between the city and the river rather than a barrier.

Green corridors are integrated into each strip, connecting the riverfront with the existing city. Rather than creating a barrier, the new neighbourhood strengthens the relationship between the city and the river, establishing a continuous and accessible landscape.

Streets

The neighbourhood is organised into urban strips defined by local access streets with entrances, shared public spaces, local amenities, and parking. Rather than forming a continuous riverside street, the local access streets terminate within each urban strip, preserving uninterrupted green corridors that connect the existing city with the riverfront.

Buildings and Landscape Design

Surrounded by both apartment buildings and single-family houses, the project demonstrates that higher-density living can offer an equally high quality of life when combined with generous landscape, diverse public spaces, and strong connections to nature. A broad range of housing typologies responds to the needs of different households, from ground-floor apartments with private gardens to rooftop homes with generous terraces, complemented by a variety of apartment sizes, orientations, loggias, balconies, and views.