#31 Walk Through the Old WU – Inventory Between Demolition and Renovation

In this episode, we invite listeners on a walk through the University Center Althangrund, better known as the “Alte WU.” Together with Ariadne Hinzen from Kollektiv Raumstation and Johannes Bretschneider from the Department of Urban Design and Planning at TU Wien, we explore the former main building of the Vienna University of Economics and Business as well as the adjacent former biology center.

We discuss the spatial structure of the site, the architectural ideas of its time, current forms of interim use, and debates around planned renovations or partial reconstructions. In addition to spatial dimensions and planning paradigms, the episode also focuses on current uses: we visit the Arashi Collective, which uses a former lecture hall as a movement and acrobatics space; the Parrot Conservation Center in the old biology building, now home to over 200 birds; and the raum café, whose furnishings from the university’s furniture depot have been transformed into a charming café landscape.

Ariadne Hinzen is a member of Kollektiv Raumstation. Raumstation itself is based in the Alte WU and works with experimental spatial exploration methods, artistic-activist interventions, and participatory processes in urban spaces.

Johannes Bretschneider teaches and conducts research at the Department of Urban Design and Planning at TU Wien. One of his main research focuses is the relationship between large-scale structures and the city. Among other projects, he has engaged with the Alte WU site through a teaching course.

Arashi Collective is a movement arts collective that has been using a former lecture hall in the Alte WU since 2023 as a training space for acrobatics, martial arts, and contemporary body practice.

Dietmar Bobacz is the vice president of the Parrot Conservation Center, which houses over 200 parrots in the former biology building at the University Center Althangrund.

Credits – Episode #31
Concept and hosting: Lukas Bast and Ariadne Hinzen
Recording, audio, and editing: Lukas Bast
Photo credits: Lukas Bast

ZUKUNFT STADT Podcast – Production:
Lukas Bast, Larissa Benk, Lisa-Marie Kramer, Lena Hohenkamp, Madlyn Miessgang, and Nico Schleicher

Intro music: Jakob Kotal

The ZUKUNFT STADT podcast is a project of the Faculty of Architecture and Spatial Planning at TU Wien. It is produced through a collaboration between the future.lab and the Department of Local Spatial Planning at TU Wien.