Isabel Stumfol and Barbara Steinbrunner spoke with Klaus Falkinger, Barbara Feller, and Werner Tschirk about challenges and approaches to managing existing buildings in rural areas.

In the fourth episode of the podcast Zukunft Stadt by the Faculty of Architecture and Spatial Planning at TU Wien, Barbara Steinbrunner and Isabel Stumfol discussed the topic of existing development (Bestand in der Fläche) with Klaus Falkinger, Barbara Feller, and Werner Tschirk. They explored various aspects and asked questions such as: “Should greenfield construction be banned?”, “Is the spatial planning tool of re-designation important to shift the focus more toward existing structures?”, and “Which measures are necessary to make better use of the existing building stock?” They also addressed demographic change and the housing preferences of younger generations. Finally, the three guests offered valuable advice for planning with existing buildings.

Barbara Steinbrunner studied spatial planning and is currently a university assistant at the Research Unit for Land Policy and Land Management at the Institute for Spatial Planning at TU Wien.

Isabel Stumfol is a spatial planner and coordinates the Center for Rural Areas at the Faculty of Architecture and Spatial Planning, where research and teaching are conducted in collaboration with practice, regions, and municipalities.
https://landuni.at

Klaus Falkinger has been mayor of Kleinzell im Mühlkreis since 2015, where he is deeply engaged with building development and building culture.

Barbara Feller is a historian who works extensively on the architectural history of the 20th and 21st centuries. She was long-time managing director of the Architekturstiftung Österreich, is chair of the association bink. Initiative for Architecture Mediation for Young People, and serves on the board of the association Landluft.

Werner Tschirk studied spatial planning at TU Wien and works at the Research Unit for Local Spatial Planning at the Institute for Spatial Planning at TU Wien, focusing on teaching development planning. He also practices as a spatial planner at the office RAUMbild in Burgenland.

Podcast information:
The podcast ZUKUNFT STADT is a project of the Faculty of Architecture and Spatial Planning at TU Wien. It is produced in cooperation between future.lab and the Research Unit for Local Spatial Planning at TU Wien.

Concept and production, audio and editing: Lukas Bast, Lena Hohenkamp, and Madlyn Miessgang
Intro music: Jakob Kotal