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The Circular Potential of the Obsolete City

A floor plan of the Karstadt shopping center in Hamburg.
graphic: Alina Bruder, Selina Casten, University of Kassel Institute for Urban Development

The climate crisis, resource scarcity and social inequalities are intensifying the pressure on urban development and architecture. How can a city continue to develop without consuming new land and resources or generating CO2? What are the paths towards achieving a shift in the building sector?

What happens to cities when existing structures lose their function and space suddenly becomes available? Stefan Rettich discusses the potential of the obsolete city and highlights the opportunities offered by structural additions, refurbishment and adaptation. The Habitat 2030 initiative presents the life-cycle assessment tool, which can be used to calculate the CO2 emissions generated during construction. In the panel discussion, representatives from central government and local authorities, as well as professionals in the sector and researchers, discuss resource-efficient construction and the opportunity presented by existing building stock.

Speaker: Stefan Rettich, architect, visiting professor at TU Wien

Impuls Habitat 2030: Katharina Kothmiller, nonconform; Lina Streeruwitz, StudioVlay Streeruwitz

Discussion also with: Nicole Kirchberger, Klima- und Energiefonds; Amila Širbegović, City of Vienna — MA 50

Moderated by Lene Benz, Az W and Andreas Bernögger, future.lab

A cooperation by Az W and the TU Wien future.lab, with the support of the Klima- und Energiefonds

Inquiries

Lene Benz
+43-1-522 31 15-17
benz@azw.at

Architekturzentrum Wien

Gray 3D site plan of the Museumsquartier Wien with the area marked in red at the location of the Architekturzentrum Wien
© MuseumsQuartier Wien