‘unicorn’ graz

The planning approach is based on an ensemble consisting of 3 bodies, with the existing Villa as the core of the site. It forms the entrance area of the start-up center with a coffee shop on the ground floor and coworking lofts and meeting rooms above. The Villa is port of call for young researchers, melting point of ideas and meeting place. The conference deck on the roof provides a view over the campus and increases the perception of events in the public. The new rooftop integrates the Villa into the ensemble. Both new constructions are well bedded in the surrounding development, thus the chosen geometrics strengthen the old components and lead to a series of inviting outdoor spaces. The 2-storey pavilion of the Students Union opens to the Villa and the plaza. The 6-storey building housing the start-ups is bridged with the Villa and highlights its role – as was the motto of the EU promotion program ,Modern Aging and Demographic Changes‘.. The bridge provides meeting places, inside and outside. Garden courts in the basement offer good workplaces by reducing the cubic volume aboveground and the sealed surfaces. A second skin made of folded aluminum panels organize the facades of the new constructions and the roof floors. A pergola made of perforated sheets serves as sun protection system and gives the facade depth and transparency at night. The manifold utilization mix with the sycamore as the joint center boosts the social life of the university district and results in a stunning radiance visible by the public.