Land for Us All

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Opening: 20 July 2022, 7 p.m.
Exhibition dates: 21 July to 11 September 2022
Opening hours: Tue–Sun 10a.m–6p.m.
Venue: HDA – Haus der Architektur, Mariahilferstraße 2, 8020 Graz

The earth's surface is a finite resource, and soil is our most precious commodity. Careless or capital-driven treatment of this resource has massively changed the shape and function of our towns and villages in recent decades. In view of the threat of a climate catastrophe and rising housing prices, the question arises as to whether the current path, with maximum compromises and minimum adaptation, is still sustainable. An extensive and courageous land policy is called for. But where is it? 

The progressive urban sprawl into the countryside has been the subject of discussion for decades. Meanwhile, everybody in Austria could be housed in the single-family homes that already exist [1] although yet more land is still being approved for building on, new shopping centres are going up on greenfield sites and whole chalet villages in the Alps. Progressive sealing of the surface is contributing to the climate crisis and endangering food security. Speculation with land is increasing housing prices and leading to a creeping privatisation of public space. Weak or unenforced spatial planning regulations, a partly misguided tax law and subsidy system, and despondent policies perpetuate the status quo instead of developing a vision for the future. 

"We all want good food, beautiful villages, a natural environment, a thriving economy and lively cities. We want cheap and spacious housing, to be mobile and independent. Most of these desires are understandable and yet these desires carry tremendous conflicts of interest," stated the curators of the exhibition Karoline Mayer and Katharina Ritter.  With the exhibition “Land for Us All”, the Architekturzentrum Wien wants to make the many forces visible that are tearing at our land. The exhibition shows that we have created a system that necessarily presupposes land consumption. 

The exhibition explains the political, legal and economic background clearly and vividly, critically and sometimes inadvertently absurdly. How does rural land become building land? Why is the price of land rising? What does all this have to do with our lives and dreams? Case studies and explanations of the relevant terminology bring light into the thicket of responsible agents involved. International comparisons illustrate strengths and weaknesses;­ international examples of best practice show alternative approaches. A collection of existing and feasible new tools points the way to spatial planning that conserves land as a resource, mitigates climate change, helps with housing issues and facilitates good architecture. We are all being called upon to think and act along new lines – and this exhibition is preparing the way. ­­­ 

The exhibition ‘Land for Us All’ is accompanied by a comprehensive and lavishly illustrated catalogue with essays by: Saskia Sassen, Gerhard Senft, Vandana Shiva, Robert Temel and Gerlind Weber. Available at the HDA. 

TV Documentary: In addition to the Az W exhibition, the HDA is showing the documentary film ‘Viel verbautes Österreich’ by Hanno Settele from the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF 1). In this filmed research, Settele reports on the struggle for land and the controversial issue of zoning. Every day almost twelve hectares of land become built up in Austria – a peak value in Europe. However, we cannot do without building. His journey through Austria illustrates the complexity of the challenges surrounding land consumption, the creation of new housing and new jobs, but also that not every square metre of grassland has to be lost. 

Speakers at the opening
Beate Engelhorn, HDA – House of Architecture, Graz
Judith Schwentner, Vice-mayor City of Graz
Markus Bogensberger, Building Culture Coordinator, Province of Styria, Graz
Katharina Ritter, curator of the exhibition, Vienna

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An exhibition of the Architekturzentrum Wien
Director: Angelika Fitz
Managing Director: Karin Lux
Curators: Karoline Mayer, Katharina Ritter
Curatorial assistance: Lisa Gallian, Christina Kirchmair
Design: PLANET architects, Gerhard Abel and Corinna Danninger
Exhibition graphics: LWZ & Manuel Radde
Illustrations & Animations: LWZ
Editing: Brigitte Ott

The touring exhibition was made possible thanks to the support of the Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture, Civil Service and Sport (BMKOES).

_{[1] With an average of 4.16 people per house (8,837,707 inhabitants in 2,123,597 detached and semi-detached houses). Source: Statistik Austria, status 2018}

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ACCOMPANYING EVENTS 

LANDDIALOG: The Future of rural areas

The future of our rural and urban cores is the subject of the kick-off event of the Landdialog series, which will travel through Styria in 2023. In eight lectures, examples from practice, research and developments at EU level will be presented, which provide impulses for a sustained strengthening of towns and city centres. The subsequent “local rounds” at the surrounding café terraces offer an opportunity for informal discussions with experts from the fields of regional, urban and local development.

Date: 27 July 2022, 2 p.m.
Venue: Space04 at the Kunsthaus Graz, Lendkai 1, 8020 Graz 

Host: Land Steiermark A16 - Verkehr und Landeshochbau & HDA, organised by nonconform

PODIUM DISCUSSION/FINISSAGE
The HDA, together with the Chamber of Civil Engineers for Styria and Carinthia, invites you to a panel discussion with representatives of the municipalities to discuss possible legal framework conditions that can counteract land grabbing, urban sprawl and sealing. 

Date: 12 September 2022, 7 p.m.
Venue: HDA – House of Architecture, Mariahilferstraße 2, 8020 Graz 

Welcome
Beate Engelhorn, Director HDA
Burkhard Schelischansky, Chairman of the Section Architekt:innen, ZT Kammer 

Lecture
Florian Hertweck, University of Luxembourg, author of the book Architektur auf gemeinsamem Boden: Positionen und Modelle zur Bodenfrage (Architecture on Common Ground: Positions and Models on the Question of Soil) 

Panel discussion
Florian Hertweck, University of Luxembourg
Elias Molitschnig, Carinthian Provincial Government, Dept. 3 – Municipalities, Spatial Planning and Civil Protection
Johanna Tentschert, Deputy Mayor of Gratwein-Straßengel
Ernst Fischbacher, Mayor of Ramsau am Dachstein 

Moderation
Gernot Kupfer, Chairman of the Committee for Urban Development and Planning, Chamber of Civil Engineers
Klaus Richter, Chairman of the Committee for Spatial Planning and Building Culture, Chamber of Civil Engineers 

FREE GUIDED TOURS
On weekends, we offer free guided tours of the ongoing exhibition every Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m. Registration is not required.