EUROPAN: PRODUCTIVE CITIES

Reintegrating industry into urban environments can benefit cities by providing neighborhood services, creating public spaces, and reducing distances between goods and consumers. This approach also promotes sustainability by bringing workplaces closer to homes, enhancing transportation infrastructure, and improving workers' quality of life. Our project emphasizes creating a comfortable and supportive working environment for industry workers, recognizing that economic transformation relies on people's labor and creativity. STRATEGIC SITE - URBAN PLANNING The project aims to benefit the urban area of Gries, which has significant social housing and a large population of low-income residents and migrants. These groups face challenges in mobility, leisure facilities, and job opportunities. We focused on developing a mobility system with accessible public spaces and new development, bringing diverse jobs to the area, including blue-collar positions. The strategic site addresses mobility on both city and neighborhood scales. We plan to connect the area to the city center with public transport and delivery zones for production facilities, including a new street across the Mur River to link the city's eastern and western parts. Locally, we introduced "The Seam," a pedestrian and cycling network along the Mühlgang waterway, providing pleasant, green walking paths and public activities. Additionally, we enhanced current site activities by adding recycling facilities, a re-use and education center, and community spaces in new green areas. The project transitions from a dense urban fabric with integrated production facilities to vast, green open spaces with industrial structures. PROJECT SITE - ARCHITECTURE Our concept centers on the workers and aims to deliver public good through an open and inviting architectural structure. The building consists of the two parts, creating an inclusive space at their junction. The first element is a transitional space between the surrounding area and the industrial world, enveloping an existing structure and expanding across the project site. This transparent shell connects trade spaces, a gastronomy area, a marketplace, art installations, and workshops, fostering interaction between the community and the industrial environment. The former warehouse, revitalized by this new structure, can house diverse producers and entrepreneurs, including food producers, breweries, furniture and ceramic manufacturers, repair services, creative industries, and an aquaponics farm. To enhance their creative work, we propose a cooperative model offering shared facilities such as kitchens, a gym, meeting rooms, childcare, and relaxation areas. Each member of the cooperative has a vote in managing these common resources, reducing individual rental costs and fostering a supportive community. The cooperative spaces are designed for accessibility, with an independent circulation system that encourages movement between levels. Larger industrial units are located at the bottom, while smaller creative industries are at the top, allowing for wide, daylight-filled courtyards and accessible terraces. This pragmatic yet romantic structure embodies a collaborative working community gathering under the open sky, where everyone can celebrate their work.