Education reloaded

Schools house the future. How can old school buildings keep up with the educational demands of future generations? How can the current urgent need for renovation become an opportunity for a thorough redesign guided by modern pedagogic principles? Three examples from Vienna and Salzburg demonstrate.

Recent Austrian school architecture exemplifies the development of innovative spatial structures for contemporary learning. Although standards and liability issues conflict with educational concepts, particularly when renovating existing buildings. An evening with presentations of pioneering renovations by the architectural firms Riccione, Klammer Zeleny and Franz&Sue — from the conversion of a former hospital to the redevelopment of a 1960s school. Together with the clients, the City of Vienna and BIG, existing buildings have been sustainably renovated, repurposed and transformed into lively, light-filled learning environments.

Presentations: Riccione Architekten, Pädagogische Hochschule, Salzburg; Klammer * Zeleny, Veitingergasse school, Vienna; Franz&Sue, Gersthof model school, Vienna

Guests: Gerald Beck, Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft BIG; Bernhard Jarolim, Director of Town Planning, City of Vienna

Moderated by Lene Benz, Az W