NutOpIA Klagenfurt - Optimisation of indoor and out­door use in Klagenfurt

The existing data on vacancies, brown­fields and under­utilisation in Klagen­furt will be expanded through additional surveys and the identification of causes. The potential of the existing stock will then be analysed in order to create a sustain­able and qualitative urban living space in Klagen­furt. This is done on the basis of three selected neighbourhoods in the city area.

The resulting measures for revitalising the existing buildings and underused brownfield sites can be transferred to the entire city area and other cities. The results will be presented in a handbook and an interactive exhibition, creating a basis for dialogue for sustainable implementation projects that sustainably improve the quality of life in Klagenfurt in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Starting point / motivation

Adequate management of the urban metabolism is essential for the realisation of resilient cities that are able to respond and adapt to the effects of climate change while ensuring regenerative urbanity. The basic prerequisite for this is the consideration of the entire city as a coherent holistic system - urban anatomy and physiology - with primary factors such as the built environment and infrastructure, green and open spaces and the social fabric. 

In practice, however, this has so far only been the case sporadically, selectively and occasionally, but neither completely nor comprehensively - an indication of systemic immaturity that needs to be remedied.

Content and objectives

As part of the objectives of the city of Klagenfurt - climate and environmental protection, decarbonisation of urban infrastructure, adaptation to climate change, climate-neutral, resilient, climate-change-adapted and regenerative buildings and neighbourhoods - four overarching questions are to be answered in the NutOpIA project:

1. How many more people could live and/or work in the defined study areas in the existing buildings through refurbishment, appropriate redensification and the elimination of vacancies? This could strengthen qualities (such as liveable living and working) and/or revitalise the city centre.
2. What costs are necessary to realise the potential and what costs can be saved by developing inwards instead of outwards?
3. How many CO2 equivalents (CO2e = unit with which the climate impact of various greenhouse gases (GHG) can be measured) of raw materials and waste (compared to external development, new construction, new buildings, mobility, ...) can be saved by realising the potential?
4. What other advantages (compared to external development and new buildings) result from the intended internal development (in terms of mobility, economic revitalisation for trade, services & tourism, etc.) and how could this potential be evaluated?

Methodological approach

After collecting existing data, including from the digital twin of the city of Klagenfurt and previous studies, the three defined study areas are analysed in the context of relevant climate- and environment-related structures, such as mobility lines and heat islands. Any ambiguities or gaps in this data are identified and supplemented. 

In each of the three study areas, uses such as brownfields, vacancies or underutilisation are classified. Contact is made with the owners in order to obtain detailed information on current utilisation. After identification, the causes are determined through qualitative interviews. Finally, a basic assessment of potential is carried out using defined key performance indicators (KPIs). This structured analysis serves as a basis for decisions on sustainable land use in Klagenfurt.

Expected results

By creating climate-neutral, resilient neighbourhoods that are adapted to climate change, the quality of life in the city is improved and an attractive and sustainable living space is created on the basis of existing buildings. 

By implementing the project, important innovations for the development of climate-friendly and sustainable solutions can be transferred to all neighbourhoods in Klagenfurt. In addition, an interactive travelling exhibition based on the results and recommendations will open up the dialogue space for politics, administration and the public. 

A handbook contains recommendations for the definition and use of planning instruments. On this basis, a catalogue of measures as well as pilot concepts and procedures will be developed, which will serve as guidelines for subsequent model projects.

Project management

Magistrat der Landeshauptstadt Klagenfurt

Project or cooperation partners

• Fachhochschule Kärnten-Architektur
• IPAK GmbH

Mag. Birgit Pobatschnig
Bahnhofstraße 35
A-9020 Klagenfurt

Tel.: +43 (463) 537 4891
E-Mail: birgit.pobatschnig@klagenfurt.at
Web: www.klagenfurt.at