Research Projects
There are 29 results.
Re-Use: Holzhaus (Re-Use – Timberhouse) - Scenarios of conduction for Repair, Refurbish & Repurpose of prefabricated timber houses
The Re-Use: Holzhaus project deals with the recyclability of prefabricated wooden components, which are generally used for single-family homes and small apartment buildings and have both a long tradition and a diverse manufacturing structure in Austria. The project aims to take significant steps along the entire value chain to make components from the past more attractive as secondary raw materials and to prepare future prefabricated houses for this purpose in the best possible way.
Wärmezukunft Steyr - Innovative Models for Climate-Neutral Heat Supply in Steyr
The project aims to establish the foundation for a climate-neutral, socially inclusive, and economically viable heating and cooling system in a pioneer city. It combines technical planning with governance approaches and the development of business and operator models. A special focus is placed on anergy networks, which - despite high upfront investments - offer strong potential for low-temperature, dual-purpose heating and cooling supply.
MARGRET Bioshade - Building Physics-Based Quantification of the Shading and Cooling Performance of Building Greening
The MARGRET Bioshade project investigates the impact of building greening on energy efficiency, climate adaptation, and building assessment. Its focus is on quantifying the shading performance of vertical greening systems, analyzing the water balance and evaporative cooling effects of different greening solutions, and developing standardized parameters for planning, simulation, and technical guidelines.
ReNew Lindenplatz - Resolving key transformation conflicts for a climate-resilient redevelopment of the Lindenplatz district in Kapfenberg
The exploratory project ReNew Lindenplatz develops a transferable planning approach for climate-neutral and climate-resilient small and medium-sized cities, using the historic old-town district around Lindenplatz and Hauptplatz in Kapfenberg as a case study. Through interdisciplinary analyses, participatory processes and scenario-based development of alternatives, an integrated transformation concept for the district will be developed. The results will form the basis for a subsequent demonstration project and provide transferable solution approaches for other small Austrian pioneer cities.
Zukunftshof - Zukunftshof Rothneusiedl - Crystallization point of a climate model district
Transdisciplinary expert networking to develop a structural, thermal, and energy-efficient renovation concept, as well as a master plan with innovative energy, monitoring, green space, and agricultural utilization concepts. The result serves as a source of ideas for contemporary revitalization and forms the basis for the implementation of the demonstration project.
ReSpace – Reclaiming Spaces
ReSpace is developing an AI-based model for identifying, categorizing, and activating sealed areas. Existing data sources (aerial and satellite images, mobile network data, land registry entries) are integrated and enhanced with dynamic analysis to derive evidence-based recommendations for action.
Densifying without Sealing - Research on the sustainable transformation of existing single-family neighbourhoods
Interdisciplinary research to develop and test a new approach for significantly increasing density in existing single-family neighbourhoods without adding any new sealed land, by strategically extending buildings upwards within their current footprint. The project delivers a practical decision basis to pave the way for a demonstration project supporting climate-resilient urban development.
Urban Sky - Satellite-based planning and analysis applications for climate-neutral and resilient cities
The project investigates how satellite data can support cities and municipalities (e.g. urban development, spatial energy planning, mobility transition). Based on demand and potential analyses, service concepts will be derived that integrate existing data and tools with satellite applications. The results will be presented in a study and a Space4Cities implementation roadmap.
LiveDetail - AI-Supported Structuring, Evaluation, and Generation of Construction Details
The exploratory project investigates the feasibility of an AI-supported workflow that can automatically identify, semantically structure, and convert technical planning details into an openBIM-/IFC-compatible format while also enriching them with ecological assessment indicators. Its objective is to enable planners and architects to access high-quality detail knowledge through intelligent, language-based interaction and thus support more sustainable and resource-efficient planning decisions in the construction industry.
QS-winmount - Quality-Assured, Practice-Tested, Sustainable and Prefabricated Window Installation for Renovation and New Construction
The QS-winmount project is developing a sustainable, innovative, prefabricated window pre-wall mounting frame that integrates thermal bridge-free design, airtightness, solar shading, ventilation with heat recovery, fall protection, and fire protection.
Vitality City - Holistic energy strategies for cities in transition
Energy simulation of any size city (municipalities) based on the data from laser scanning and satellite analysis (Geodata) to obtain dynamical energy demands and available energy resources.
Wood.TAB - Investigation of thermally activatable timber components incorporating phase‑change materials for heating and cooling
Wood.TAB develops thermally activatable timber components with biogenic phase‑change materials for efficient heat and cold storage. The technology uses the building mass as a thermal storage system, reduces peak loads, and improves indoor comfort.
MidSKliN – Minimally invasive dynamic rehabilitation taking into account climate change adaptation, CO₂ emissions and grid compatibility
The project aims to develop and demonstrate minimal renovation measures at the building envelope level using modular, technically easy-to-implement building technology solutions for decisive CO2 reduction and climate adaptation in urban building stock.
Fit4NEB_Linz - Sommerfeld Ebelsberg: NEB-Neighbourhood development sustainable, aesthetic, participatory
Building on the previous planning and participation processes, sustainable, aesthetic and participatory development principles should be defined, and an New European Bauhaus (NEB) quality assurance process set up. Furthermore, implementation projects that are suitable for the EU funding program Horizon Europe should be designed.
WLCÖ - Whole Life Carbon Austria: Comparative life-cycle assessments for buildings and construction methods in Austria
The project's aim is to develop a scientifically robust building LCA methodology that can be applied throughout Austria and enable a neutral, consistent comparison of conventional and future-proof constructions.
Transform:Leoben2040 - Preparation of a demonstration project for the climate-neutral development of the Fichtlplatz–Kärntnerstraße district
The exploratory project Transform:LEoben2040 develops a transferable transformation concept for the municipal residential district Fichtlplatz–Kärntnerstraße in Leoben. By developing an integrated district energy system as well as new financing and operational models, the project aims to identify climate-neutral and economically viable solutions for transforming existing urban neighborhoods. The results will provide the basis for a subsequent demonstration phase and serve as a transferable model for other pioneer small cities.
FW-Netz Traiskirchen - Feasibility study on decarbonizing the district heating network in Traiskirchen by using the sewage treatment plant as a heat source
The exploratory project is examining the technical, economic, and ecological feasibility of community-wide decarbonization of the district heating network in Traiskirchen. The focus is on merging the existing sub-networks and utilizing wastewater heat from the sewage treatment plant using a large heat pump. The results will form a basis for strategic decision-making and serve as a model for other small and medium-sized towns.
Commercial Quarter Erdberger Mais (EBM) - Transformation of a Business Development Area into a Climate-Resilient Commercial Quarter
The project addresses the urgent need to further develop existing industrial areas in a climate-resilient, resource-efficient, and future-oriented way. The approximately 7.6-hectare commercially used site in Vienna is to be developed as an industrial-commercial area in line with the Wien-Plan (Urban Development Plan 2035).
SPOT – Smart Parking Space Optimization Tool
SPOT develops a data-driven tool for demand-oriented optimization of parking spaces in urban areas to use space more efficiently and promote climate neutrality. The tool supports cities in reducing parking areas and creating green spaces by calculating evidence-based parking space ratios.
Exploration project “Glangaerten” – development of a climate neutral neighbourhood in Salzburg Maxglan
In the course of the exploratory talks, the concepts for the development of the climate-neutral district will be developed. Basics are being developed for the topics: citizen participation – mixed use – energy – mobility and open space with the aim of realising a sustainable Plus Energy Quarter that brings added value to the district.