Research

Common Space

To transform our environment into a more resilient and inclusive one, we have developed three strategies: Co-Creation, Circular Architecture and Common Space. Here we present a short guideline to our Common Space strategy.

Our Common Space approach aims to transform our cities into a common resource that serves the empowerment and development of cooperative forms of working and socialising by:

• providing well-equipped shared spaces and infrastructure for activities
• creating flexible, affordable access
• encouraging creative development and wellbeing
• contributing to a resource-efficient way of life
• creating meeting points for social exchange
• leveraging digitization and innovation for broader positive change

 

 

Our contribution to a solution: We believe that our cities should be inclusive and supportive. Not to loose this vision in everyday life, we created the Common Space project run by an interdisciplinary team from the fields of architecture, urbanism and social sciences.

In the Common Space project we use multi-layered institutional collaborations, exhibitions, teaching events and workshops in order to continuously deepen the concepts and methods.

 

COMMON SPACE GUIDELINE

 

Step_1: From problem to potential!
 

  • growing population results in higher density
  • rising costs cause limited access to space

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  • digital tools create new forms of access and management
  • a culture of shared infrastructures and re- sources enables multiple use
    • Growing population and density balanced by Common Space concept

     

     

    Step_2: Innovative Program

     

  • involve committed actors
  • develop business models that generate public value
  • organise the maintenance and care work
  • develop an open use offer

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    Organisation principles of open use concepts
    Example of an open use structure (Park Macht Platz)

     

     

    Step_3: Re-program Typologies

     

  • add a new layer of public infrastructure and spaces
  • that foster personal and creative developement
  • that create social connection points
  • create flexible, affordable access
  • help establish a resource-saving lifestyle

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    Common Space typologies (Common Space Workshop, Common Space Market and Common Space New Work)

     

     

    Step_4: Interconnect

     

  • make the local infrastructure and offers offline and online acessible
  • create physical info points
  • integrate online platforms for social exchange, reservation and booking

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    Network of info points for digital connection (Sunken City)

     

     

    Step_5: Design Resilience

     

  • robust, sustainable and with low maintenance
  • controllable access creating a high sense of security
  • free of charge or affordable as well as largely consumption-free
  • socially and technologically innovative

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    Design Rules

     

     

    Step_6: Create Awareness

     

  • exhibitions (e.g. MAK, Vienna Biennale) and lectures
  • workshops (e.g. Public Prototyping and Summerschool with university students)
  • publications (e.g. Mostlikely Sudden Workshop, Common Space Brochure)

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    Examples of sharing knowledge: Vienna Design Week and Summerschool Transform Ternitz