BUILD Q1 2019

Build Q1 2019 30 ince its founding in 2005, flexibility has been a key strength. Internationally prestigious buildings such as the OIC headquar- ters in Jeddah and the Warsaw Sinfonia are as much part of their portfolio as highly functional commercial centres, hospitals, schools and research facilities, or elegant villas and hotels, or exceptional museums and theatres. Atelier Thomas Pucher currently consists of a team of 45 employees. To- gether with a general planning team of architects, mechanical and structural engineers, consultants in energy and building physics, it is one of the largest architectural firms in Graz, Austria. Creating meaningful living spaces through a conscious approach in designing `better societies´, are areas the company thrives on. Flexibility is the key-factor in their design as it enables the building context to evolve over time as the user needs change. A good example of this is VIERTEL ZWEI, an office and residential district in Vien- na, Austria, where Thomas Pucher took the subject of the forest and green space of the Wiener Prater, a large public park in Vienna’s 2nd district, and connected these areas which form part of the new district. In this relaxed urban setting, these round residential and office towers not only stand apart in the green space, but become part of the landscape-forming elements. In 2018, the project was awarded the architectural prize “Schorsch” and the Iconic Award for energy efficiency and sustainable buildings. VIERTEL ZWEI is one of the most successful urban development projects in Vienna to date and a good example of how work and everyday life can complement each other. Thomas Pucher shares some of his secrets of the company’s success over the years: “The company works in a range of different areas and is divided into two big teams, one for ideas and the other for implementation. The idea-finding team generates designs and visions. Here you will find all the tools that support the creative process, from modeling to rendering, VR, 3D printing and hand sketches. Here are all visions, concepts, competi- tions, designs and presentations are created. The implementation team is responsible for project management. It is of great importance that our project managers have good local knowledge, speak the language and are Innovative Designs Atelier Thomas Pucher’s designs arise from meticulous research, grasping the spirit of the site and its context. In doing this they create individual, original designs with each project, iconic buildings that stand for themselves. These are not just beautiful; they are also outstanding on a functional level. S informed about the cultural diversities in the cities we build. Our buildings are the result of meticulous research into the site and its context – in technical, cultural, financial and aesthetic terms – and strictly tailored to fit.” Together these teams are supported by in-house experts in detail planning, cost management, interior design and more. The company has also started its own project development. “In order to realize our ideas and visions, we need to finance and develop our own projects to ensure the highest levels of quality, sustainability and flexibility.” says Pucher. Atelier Thomas Pucher values long-term perspectives and they are constantly pushing forward into the untapped potential for environmental sustainability. In 2015, Thomas Pucher became partner and co-founder of the URBAN FUTURE Global Conference, the world’s largest conference for City Changers - urban decision-makers who actively, passionately and ef- fectively make cities more sustainable. In May 2019, the URBAN FUTURE global conference (UFGC) will take place in Oslo (Norway) for the first time. Organized from Graz, the conference on sustainable urban development is one of the fastest growing events in this field world-wide. More than 3,000 City Changers from over 400 cities are expected in Oslo from 22 to 24 May 2019. The program was developed together with 200 experts and organiza- tions from the UFCG network. Sustainable building and car-free city centers will be two of the ten central themes of the conference. Leading the way in both areas, innovation drivers will tell how they break up rigid systems, re- think processes and navigate their city into a sustainable future. Architecture and the construction industry play a decisive role in reducing the emissions of a city. Plus energy buildings of almost any size are today easy to realize from a structural point of view. Why they are still the exception rather than the norm and what it would take to change is one of the central issues that will be discussed at the Urban Future Global Conference 2019. More information under www.urban-future.org