HCAD Students Design Urban Spaces for Social Togetherness
Krems, Austria — From July 15 to August 5, the city of Krems hosted an inspiring workshop entitled “Adapting Historic Public Spaces for a Digital Culture." This collaborative initiative, involving the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), the architecture network ORTE, and the AIR Lower Austria (Artist-in-Residence) program, brought together the city and community of Krems with 14 architecture students from NJIT's Hillier College of Architecture and Design. Led by Professors Gernot Riether and Andrzej Zarzycki the workshop fostered a dynamic exchange of ideas between local stakeholders and the visiting students.
Krems, known for its rich history and cultural significance as a UNESCO World Heritage site, faces the challenge of maintaining its cultural identity and thousand-year-old architectural heritage while embracing a multitude of tourists and the social incongruity of the digital age. The workshop sought to answer the question: How can Krems activate its historic urban spaces in response to a world increasingly shaped by digital communication?
Exploring the Future of Public Spaces
As digital culture continues to reshape how we interact, public spaces can evolve to address the growing challenges digital culture presents. With increasing isolation despite online connectivity, the studio acknowledges the impact of social media and digital communication on diminishing face-to-face interactions and weakening interpersonal relationships, making it harder for people to connect and engage meaningfully in person. "We asked ourselves, as the number of single-person households rises in the US but also in Austria, how can we design spaces that foster connection and bring people together?" said Professor Gernot Riether.
The students, working closely with local stakeholders, developed innovative concepts to transform Krems' historical urban landscape into a model of adaptive, dynamic, responsive, and multifunctional public spaces. Students imagined public spaces that are designed to foster engagement across diverse social and economic groups through shared experiences, promoting social cohesion. Projects emphasized the importance of spaces that inspire, surprise, and cater to the needs of city’s residents—not by sensationalizing technology for consumption, but by using it thoughtfully to enhance human connection. Projects explored modular design components controlled by smart systems that allow public areas to shift between functions, such as transforming from a shared office space during the day to a social hub in the evening.
Kunst-Transformer by Johny Li
Johny Li’s Kunst-Transformer, a versatile structure can transform a performance space into a studio for artists or open office space. The space is flexible enough to be also used for workshops, lectures, events, and promoting current exhibitions, thereby strengthening the relationships between the various art institutions. The structure features a series of rings that provide an infrastructure for events, public lounging areas, shading, and energy creation. These rings, made of galvanized steel trusses and covered by acoustic and solar panels, can be opened, closed, and reconfigured to adapt to different uses, weather conditions and seasons. The project is mobile, allowing it to be relocated within the Museums Platz or to the nearby roundabouts.
The workshop also discussed how extended reality (XR) can change urban spaces into hybrid spaces where the physical and digital worlds blur, enabling public spaces to function as immersive experiences of virtual exhibitions and interactive public art. The result was a range of creative designs for public spaces that promote togetherness, inclusivity, and livability that not only respect the city's heritage but also address contemporary social challenges such as loneliness and isolation in the digital age.
Infrastructure for the Arts by Julia Okon
Julia Okon’s participatory linear infrastructure for the arts and for play blends a wayfinding system for an art organization with spaces to congregate. The project responds to needs of different local communities with the aim to create a space of conversation between the residents of Krems and the artist community. The project provides numerous uses and different ways for people to interact with the space.
The workshop’s success lies in its blend of academic insight and real-world application. The students’ designs are expected to influence future urban development in Krems, with potential projects to be integrated into local initiatives. By focusing on multifunctional and consumption-free spaces, these designs aim to strengthen community bonds while offering innovative solutions to urban challenges. “It is inspiring to see how the students have developed concepts that are not only consumption-free, but also promote community,” Mayor of Krems Peter Molnar explained.
Klaus Krobath from AIR Niederösterreich praised the students’ creativity, emphasizing that “this initiative brings fresh perspectives and creative ideas that connect art and the public in ways that can redefine public space.” According to Nachrichten Österreich, the workshop was “a valuable contribution to initiatives that not only beautify the cityscape but also lead to the improvement of environmental conditions.” Austria's largest newspaper, the Kronen Zeitung, highlighted the projects' "interactive, inclusive, and consumption-free" approach. The emphasis on sustainability, inclusivity, and creativity demonstrates the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration in shaping Krems’ future public spaces.
As Krems continues to evolve, balancing its rich history with the demands of the digital age, workshops like “Adapting Historic Public Spaces for a Digital Culture" serve as vital platforms for rethinking the role of public spaces in fostering human interaction and connection in an increasingly virtual world. The collaboration between NJIT, ORTE, and AIR Lower Austria illustrates the role academia can play in connecting communities and bringing innovative urban design concepts to life. This workshop is an inspiring example of how global partnerships can contribute to the revitalization of historic cities, ensuring they remain vibrant and connected in an increasingly digital world.
More projects that were developed during this workshops can be found on the website of the City of Krems.
