The three leading architecture schools of Vienna have come together to initiate a public dialogue on how contemporary cities can strategically rethink large-scale industrial sites. The transition from an industrial-era logic to environmentally conscious planning is far from seamless. We are confronted with challenges of unprecedented complexity and must draw on expertise from a wide range of disciplines to develop realistic approaches to XL-scale urban change.Vienna, with its layered history of industrial development, offers a rich and timely context for these discussions.

The event featured dynamic problem statements from leading practitioners and academics in the field. On-stage interviews with chief architects of European cities and regions — including Kristiaan Borret, Floris Alkemade, and Finn Williams — complemented the more theoretical presentations by keynote speakers with insights drawn from real-life planning experience. Experts from all three organising schools contributed to the discussion, alongside representatives from the City of Vienna and several development companies.