Industrial XLTransformations

The three leading architecture schools of Vienna have come together to initiate a public dialogue on how contemporary cities can strategically rethink large-scale industrial sites.
The transition from an industrial-era logic to environmentally conscious planning is far from seamless. We are confronted with challenges of unprecedented complexity and must draw on expertise from a wide range of disciplines to develop realistic approaches to XL-scale urban transformation.
Vienna, with its layered history of industrial development, offers a rich and timely context for these discussions.
 
The event will feature dynamic problem statements from leading practitioners and academics in the field. On-stage interviews with chief architects of European cities and regions — including Kristiaan Borret, Floris Alkemade, and Finn Williams — will complement the more theoretical presentations by keynote speakers with insights drawn from real-life planning experience.
 
Experts from all three organising schools will contribute to the discussion, alongside representatives from the City of Vienna and several development companies.

Programme
Introduction: Austrian Industrial: Where are we now? by Gabu Heindl AU.

Part 1. Problem statements 11:00 – 12:30
  • The Phenomenon of the Interior Urbanism by prof. Ute Schneider (TU Wien, KCAP) AT/CH
  • XL Politics of the XL Transformations by Alexander D’Hooghe (Organisation for Permanent modernity), BE
  • The Next Energy Scapes by prof. Milica Topalovic (ETH), CH/RS
Discussion moderated by Gabu Heindl & Anastassia Smirnova-Berlin, AU/NL

Part 2. XL Conversations 13.30 – 15.00
  • Alexander D’Hooghe interviews Kristiaan Borret, chief architect of Antwerp (2014−2017) and Brussels Capital Region (2015 – 2024), BE
  • Milica Topalovic interviews Floris Alkemade, chief architect of the Netherlands (2015−2021) and a project leader (as part of OMA) of Entrepot MacDonald and Zollverein Kohlenwäsche, NL
  • Sam Jacob interviews Finn Williams, a co-founder of Public Practice, UK, and the city architect of Malmö, SE
Q&A and organised plenary discussion

Organisers
  • The Institute of Art and Architecture (Academy of Fine Arts Vienna)
  • The Institute of Architecture (University of Applied Arts Vienna)
  • The Institute of Urban Design and Landscape Architecture (Technical University Vienna)
Curators
Ute Schneider (TU), Anastassia Smirnova

Learn more about this Symposium

Symposium
Symposium
08. September 2025, 11:00 - 15:00
Österreichische Postsparkasse, Georg-Coch-Platz 2, 1010 Wien, Austria