Supervisor: Anne Brandl
Assistant: Martin Mackowitz
The Prealps, the region of Lake Constance, the Rhine valley and the adjoining valleys are changing. In particular, the lower regions of Vorarlberg have undergone major changes in recent decades and are gradually becoming a large suburban carpet. In contrast, the deep valleys of Vorarlberg, like the Grosses Walsertal valley, have been able to maintain their unique cultural landscape qualities. It is clear that any further spread of settlement into the adjoining valleys could destroy these cultural landscapes. Therefore, it is important for the individual villages and valleys to maintain their identity and to strengthen their position against the broad mass of settlements by developing strong “urban” visions.
In this studio we will focus on the Grosses Walsertal as a case study of an urban landscape. In cooperation with local stakeholders we will think creatively about possible spatial scenarios and urban qualities for the valley. What are the spatial, cultural, sensual, architectural, urban, and rural qualities of the Grosses Walsertal? How can we make these qualities perceptible? Through which urban strategies could the position of the Großes Walsertal be strengthened with regard to the city of Vorarlberg and the region of Lake Constance? What large and small scale interventions could be developed to expand and preserve this unique „urban“ landscape?
The studio is a cooperate project with regional and local stakeholders. Together we will not only create urban visions for the valley and zoom into specific urban designs and architectural situations. We will also work on an exhibition, an analogue and a virtual reality model, a booklet and a presentation as well. With these different forms of communication we hope to make the students results transparent to the public.
Part 1
reading!
To make the qualities and advantages of the Grosses Walsertal visible we will collect, analyse and map facts and figures, processes and dynamics of the valley.
Part 2 (Design Seminar)
experiencing!
For a week we will receive input from regional and local actors in the Grosses Walsertal valley. We will use the time to experience the valley with all our senses.
Part 3
conceptualizing!
We will start our interventions on a large scale. We will think creatively about possible spatial scenarios and urban qualities for the valley. What can be the image, the urban or rural character of the valley in 2030?
Part 4
zoom in!
Based on the urban visions and spatial scenarios we will design in this unit small scale interventions. We will take into account topics like mobility, energy, public space, the transition between landscape and settlement, …
