RUNNER UP

Project Description by Team: Water underlies the relations between all kingdoms of nature, all parts of each individual. Water is consubstantial with us and yet, it is the element most difficult for man to tame. What if instead of mastering it we decided to follow it? To circulate, to infiltrate, to reflect, to water, to purify : Such is the utopia of this project. The fragmentation of Gösting’s territory induces a series of ruptures at all scales of life. Our project aims to break down the dams, follow the breaches, consolidate the networks and irrigate the territory. This new landscape, structured by the network of swales, will improve the living environment of users in ethical, aesthetic and health terms, enriching the heritage value of Graz and demonstrating the area's ability to meet the challenges of the future.

Jury Statement: "The project seeks to mend the infrastructural fractures by uncovering and showcasing the latent potential within the territory’s underlying elements. It strives to redefine the district’s image by focusing on its landscape and its dynamics, while strengthening its identity and interconnecting its inherent qualities mainly through blue infrastructure. The project is valued for its robust and well-developed proposals across scales, which can be easily projected into future scenarios. It takes the existing ecological network seriously and strongly illustrates a framework that incorporates the wider aspects of the site and links it to the reflection site. The approach convinces through its consistent, logical, and poetic engagement with the theme of water. Dualities such as nature and urban space are dissolved, giving rise to a multifunctional, identity-establishing space. What's particularly noteworthy is that public spaces are not created through buildings; instead, water is used as a socio-ecological typology to establish public spaces. The clear structure of the strategy, which extends down to smaller scales, is also worth highlighting. […]“