Workshop 2 - Room with a (view) street

Sabine Bauer

Austria seals around 12.1 hectares of land every day, while at the same time around 40,000 hectares of building space remain unused. This is why the renovation, reuse, and long-term use of existing buildings must be urgently promoted.

Despite extensive redesign of the public space, numerous ground floor spaces remain vacant on Annenstraße in Graz. In Workshop 2, we explore the spatial potential of these vacant properties and examine possibilities for future developments. What alternative uses are conceivable, sensible, and needed there? What organizational and structural requirements must be met in the building and beyond in order to make room for communal uses, cultural and educational offerings, housing, or services in the currently vacant space?

During the workshop, we will work directly in a vacant space along Annenstraße: the space will become a temporary studio and experimental room. Ideas can be tested immediately and discussed with owners and neighbors. We are supported in this by the Re:Space Annenstraße project, which, as part of the Sustainability Challenge and the ÖKOPROFIT network, connects students with the city administration, local businesses, and owners and tests climate- and resource-friendly activations in existing buildings.

The results of our work will be presented on site and discussed with local stakeholders. The aim is to develop ideas for the development of the ground floor zone in Annenstraße and to show the key local stakeholders the spatial potential.

April 20–24, 2026

Photo: Marcus Wohlmuth