The machining robot system developed at TU Graz was jointly designed by the Faculties of Architecture and Civil Engineering and is operated primarily by the Institute of Structural Design and the Laboratory for Structural Engineering as a grinding and milling robot system. The research and test facility - built by ABB AG Austria - is designed for wet and dry machining of large components. Both hard and soft materials can be processed by grinding and milling. The plant is equipped with a precision linear axis, which was planned and built by the company Nomotec. The base plate on which the machining robot is mounted is mounted with linear ball bearings and is driven by a ball screw ø 70 mm. In addition, the system is equipped with an automatic tool change system and "Force Control". Various programs such as HyperMILL / HyperCAD, PiPath, Fire - FTP, Robot Studio are available for programming the robot.

The processing laboratory is also available for external courses and can be used for various diploma and master theses. The Robot Design Laboratory can be found on the ground floor of Inffeldgasse 24.

The Wood Workshop is operated by the Institute of Spatial Design. Here, we explore the eccentricity of architecture as craft — we search for structural expression, whether it is a model, a piece of furniture, or a building element. Thinking and doing becomes one with the help of all essential woodworking machines. A lab for the understanding how things are made and how architecture gains physical presence through the process of its making. The workshop is led by a master carpenter.

In the digital workshop, the students of our faculty have four laser cutters and two 3D printers at their disposal. The workshop is located in Kronesgasse 5 and is managed by the Institute of Architecture and Media. 

Laser cutters are machines that use a laser beam to cut materials with high precision and speed. Like a digital Stanley knife, they cut different materials such as thin paper, cardboard or plywood but also 10mm thick acrylic glass.

In the first semester, the students are given an introduction to the handling of the devices within the scope of the course "Methods or representation". Afterwards, they can hire by means of a digital registration system into the digital workshop and use the machines independently. They have to bring along only the digital data of the planar shapes that are to be cut out. The data is usually prepared in a CAD or vector-capable desktop publishing program at home and the students have to send it to the machines in the digital workshop.

In addition to the laser cutters, there are also 3D printers in the digital workshop that can be used for printing architecture models of all kinds. It is operated by members of the Institute of Architecture and Media. Since the 3D printer does not forgive any errors the students are often supported during the preparation of the data before printing, so that they can deliver a cleanly modeled digital 3D model. This machine is mainly used for very fine models or free-form geometries, which are difficult or impossible to be built by hand.

The use of these CNC-controlled machines is an ideal addition to the handmade model making, while the models also receive an unprecedented precision.

For further information and  the reservation of the lasercutter please visit the website of the Institute of Architecture and Media.

The model workshops, which are located in the basement and ground floor of Kronesgasse 5, are independent workshops. These can be used at any time to work with glue, foamboard, styrofoam, etc.

The use of the small machine workshop is only possible after completed machine evaluation (sawing, grinding, drilling, etc.).

For the use of the small machine workshop, the machine evaluation is necessary. This evaluation consists of two parts, both of which are mandatory. The theoretical part is a lecture and the practical part is to be completed on the machines (limited number of participants). The participation in both parts as well as the knowledge of the workshop rules are to be confirmed by a signature. After successful completion of the evaluation, a workshop card is issued yearly; this card must be visible when using the small machines. A fee is charged for the consumption of materials and wear on machines. Further information can be found under: koen.tugraz.at

Machine workshop and CNC milling machine are on site in the Kronesgasse 5, but only to be operated by our trained technical staff. Here, an appointment or agreement with the Institute of Construction and Design principles is necessary.

Site plan of the workshops

Beginnning in the 2017/18 Winter Semester, studio spaces with a total area of 800m² in the attic of the Alte Technik were made available to master's students as workplaces. Up to eight courses for a total of 160 students can be held in the studios at the same time. The places are made available to students for one semester.

Attic - User Information

Workplaces for Students

The architecture drawing studios at TU Graz are spaces for creativity, learning and teaching where students organize themselves autonomously. There are a few rooms which are available for use as innovation spaces where self-organized learning processes are allowed. These rooms are located on the Alte Technik campus and  in Münzgrabenstraße and are managed and maintained by their own collectives. Membership in one of the TU Graz drawing studios is at the discretion of the organizers of each individual studio.

At irregular intervals the TU Graz drawing studios host project talks with active architects, as well as lecture series and student parties in their own spaces. They also participate in the organization of the annual summer party Graz Open Architecture at the end of the summer semester.

List of public drawing rooms:

Architekturzeichensaal 0 (AZ0)
Architekturzeichensaal 1 (AZ1)
Architekturzeichensaal 2 (AZ2)
Architekturzeichensaal 3 (AZ3)
Architekturzeichensaal 4 (AZ4)
Architekturzeichensaal 5 (AZ5)
Architekturzeichensaal Turm (AZTurm)
Architekturzeichensaal plus (AZ+)