PHD-Day Winter Semester 2024/25

Two methodological guidelines were central to ten candidates of the Doctoral School of Architecture during their PhD seminar in the winter semester of 2024–25: “impact” and “implementation.” While impact referred to the relevance of the research question and its position within the current context, implementation focused on the organization and structure of the dissertation itself. Across four workshops, participants exchanged ideas, discussed methods, and received input on research techniques and structured work with mind maps. The seminar was conceived and accompanied by Vanessa Gomes da Silva, Alexander Passer, Stefan Peters, Marcella Ruschi Mendes Saade, and Andreas Trummer from the Institute of Structural Design. The concluding poster presentation on February 24, 2025, in HS II showcased the broad scope of architectural research at the faculty: “Structural Integrity in Solid Timber Components: A Paradigm Shift from Reuse to Ever-Use” (Ernst Alexander Dengg), “Structural Design of Thin-Walled 3D Printed Concrete Elements” (David Gierlinger), “Building Sustainability Performance” (Nathalie Glenn), “Archea Urbana: Utopia Meets Reality, Reality Meets Utopia” (Eugen Gross), “Ghetto vs. Gated: Subsidized Housing in a Neoliberal World” (Michael Heil), “Quasi-Responsibility as a Critical Project” (Ramona Kraxner), “Townscape Analysis and Design of the New Residential Neighborhoods in Graz” (Ognjen Persoglio), “Design, Manufacturing Concept and Investigation of Ceilings with Flat Curved Soffits” (Thomas Rumpf), “Investigating the Impact of Transitional Spaces on Energy Performance and Thermal Comfort for Senior Housing Design” (Isik Ülkün Neusser), and “Material Savings in Foundation Components” (Philip Wehbe).

Stefan Peters, Andreas Trummer