Innsbruck projects win awards for climate adaptation and social spaces
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The city of Innsbruck transformed the DDr.-Alois-Lugger-Platz in the Olympic Village into a climate-resilient urban space.
The area previously consisted of 4,000 square meters of sealed surface that generated extreme heat and faced heavy winds. The city added trees, shrubs, and a rainwater management system based on the sponge city principle, which absorbs water on-site to mitigate heat and heavy rain. The city overcame technical challenges to complete the project because an underground garage sits beneath the square.
Officials worked with local residents to integrate the green space into the urban landscape. A jury described the site as a model for European cities to provide social welfare and climate justice. In the Dreiheiligen district, the Kulturbackstube expanded a former residence of the Therese Mölk family. Originally intended as a temporary three to five year project, the site has become a permanent cultural hub. Owner Hansjörg Mölk added two floors of timber construction to the building.
These upper floors generate rental income to make the cultural initiative more independent from subsidies. The Zentralvereinigung der Architektinnen und Architekten Österreichs presented these awards in Graz. The organization selected six projects from 132 submissions across Austria. This year, the jury focused on sustainability and renovation over demolition, rewarding projects that combine historical structures with modern architecture.
