New management of the HDA

The HDA - House of Architecture in Graz is pleased to announce new management from October 2024. We are following the organisation's tradition of constantly questioning the association and being open to new ideas.

After long and intensive discussions on content and structural issues, we have taken a clear position and unanimously decided to take a new path.

Similar to architecture itself, the topics and content of architectural education and architectural discourse are shaped by many people and interest groups. We are convinced that by proactively opening up the HDA, we can create a further level of networking for architectural discourse in Graz, Styria, Austria and Europe.

SHARED LEADERSHIP/TEAM - new management
Zerina Džubur takes over the management of the programme, Karin Oberhuber is responsible for the operational management. The HDA team will take on a stronger role in future.

Zerina Džubur is a trained architect and a young advocate of building culture and its communication. Karin Oberhuber brings with her many years of expertise in budgetary, operational and association-related matters.
Both have excellent international and regional networks from their work - especially with the young, committed architecture scene, which is forward-looking for the HDA - and are familiar with the latest topics in architecture, urban development and building culture.
Both new and established programmes are implemented together with the existing team.

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WHAT DO WE WANT TO IMPLEMENT?

OPEN CALL
We see the OPEN CALL as an important instrument of openness - an invitation to submit ideas and projects and to develop and implement them together with the HDA.
In addition to the Open Call, the established fixed dates and proven programmes of the HDA will be continuously developed and continued.

ADVISORY BOARD
A newly organised and strengthened programme advisory board will be appointed to review the submissions for the Open Call. As an advisory body, it supports the programme management with the aim of generating up-to-date and varied annual programmes.

**Mediation and visibility of Baukultur**
The HDA has a special responsibility in the communication and discourse on architecture and building culture. It is therefore essential to make the range of diverse activities on a building culture level more visible to a broad public.

The HDA will continue to organise the Styrian Architecture Prize and the Architecture Days every two years. The communication of Styrian building culture in a supra-regional context will play a central role.
The successful cooperation with the European architecture platform LINA will be continued and offers the opportunity to develop and realise new ideas with architects from all over Europe.
In addition to the existing international collaborations, the founding members who brought the association to life almost 40 years ago will once again be more actively involved. The lively Styrian architecture scene is also expressly invited to become actively involved as part of the opening up of the programme.
In addition, renowned international lecturers on current topics and exhibitions are brought into the building and relevant discussions are held as part of an extensive accompanying programme.

**Openness and networking as key objectives**
It is fundamentally important to the new management to open up the museum, stimulate a lively discourse and connect the region with the world. Current topics are to be discussed at different levels and in a wide variety of formats in order to facilitate a broad dialogue.

**Intensive programme development**
The annual programme is decided and refined at regular meetings and an annual retreat with the newly organised and appointed programme advisory board. It is particularly important to the two new directors to bring various stakeholders on board and use the wisdom of the many to develop a comprehensive and stimulating programme.

We look forward to an active and open time in the House of Architecture!

The board
Gernot Ritter (independent member), Chairman
Andreas Tropper (Province of Styria)
Bertram Werle (City of Graz)
Burkhard Schelischansky (Chamber of Civil Engineers)
Matthias Castorph (TU-Graz)
Heidrun Primas (Forum Stadtpark), Vice Chairperson
Birgit Schiretz (Central Association of Architects)