FH Carinthia architecture course wins International DesignbuildXchange Award 2024 with “Impulshaus” as an innovative housing project for homeless people
Villach (OTS) – The Impulshaus, developed by students of the architecture course, was recognized for its groundbreaking solutions in the areas of social justice and sustainable housing solutions. It responds to increasing homelessness, also in Austria.
The demand for sustainable and social housing is increasing worldwide, and architects are faced with the challenge of developing innovative solutions that are not only ecologically compatible but also socially just. In the midst of these challenges, the architecture course at the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences stands out as a pioneer, not only developing innovative concepts but also receiving international recognition for its work.
The International DesignbuildXchange Award 2024 for the groundbreaking “Impulshaus” project, which deals with the urgent problem of homelessness and was developed and implemented by students, is reward for years of research and skills development in sustainable architecture. After the project was presented at the Architecture Biennale in Venice 2020 and workshops with students from the Technical University of Munich, it is now once again receiving international recognition.
“After receiving the Carinthian Human Rights Prize, students worked on the draft of a master plan for a property in the municipality of Marburg in Germany. The municipality’s commission to develop a settlement for homeless people shows us how timely dealing with this topic is.” says Julien Presland from the Carinthian University of Applied Sciences.
Alexander Hagner, endowed professor at the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, emphasized the importance: “The convinced necessity of such projects led to design build funding from the Sto Foundation and support from the Hans Sauer Foundation and made their implementation possible.”
Given the current situation in Austria, where according to studies over 21,000 people are homeless and experts fear a further increase in the coming years, there is an urgent need for innovative and feasible housing solutions.
The focus of the architecture course at the Carinthian University of Applied Sciences is on social architecture, timber construction and building in existing buildings. The students deal intensively with questions such as “Who are we building for?” and “Why do we build?” and find competent solutions.
The architectural training at the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences not only imparts technical skills, but also a deep understanding of responsibility towards society and the environment. Practical training and close collaboration between the fields of civil engineering and sustainable real estate management create innovative solutions for the challenges of our time.
FH Carinthia
The Carinthia University of Applied Sciences is a leading educational institution that is characterized by its innovative study programs and its commitment to social and sustainable development and the integration of research and teaching. With a strong focus on practice-oriented training, the Carinthian University of Applied Sciences prepares its students to meet the challenges of the future.
Questions & Contact:
Mag. Arch. Alexander Hagner project management
T: +43 5 90500 5127| E: a.hagner@fh-kaernten.at