Publications
The Development of Urban Rural Relationship at the Example of the City of Graz Austria
A dynamic urban-rural relationship has emerged around Graz, Austria, characterized by growing cooperation and competition between the city and its surrounding municipalities. This study quantifies changes over time using data from 1978, building on Wilhelm Leitner's 'Interaktionsraum Graz' framework. It reveals a strong development of an 'urban region,' where functional linkages based on mobility, infrastructure, and economic exchange have intensified. The findings highlight the potential for sustainable regional development through collaboration while also noting increased competition, particularly in southern Graz. This research underscores the importance of recognizing interdependence between urban and rural areas to achieve balanced growth and preserve natural resources.
An Example of the Transition to Sustainable Mobility in the Austrian City of Graz
Graz, Austria, stands out as a replicable model for sustainable mobility within the EU, demonstrating significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through its 'eco-transformation' strategy. The city's focus on 'soft mobility'—walking, cycling, and public transit—has proven effective, with quantitative analysis showing that environmental and temporal variables influence cycling behavior. This study highlights Graz as a leading example of how urban areas can transition to sustainable transportation, aligning with broader EU climate goals and offering insights for other cities aiming to mitigate the ecological impacts of fossil-fueled mobility.
From geology to site decision: Potential for underground heat storage in Graz
A promising solution for long-term thermal energy storage, cavern thermal energy storage (CTES), has been identified as feasible for Graz, Austria. This study highlights the potential of CTES systems to store excess heat from industrial processes, thereby contributing to CO2 emission reduction. Geological analyses pinpointed solid rock formations, particularly carbonates and crystalline rocks in the western and north-western areas of Graz, as suitable storage sites. Among these, the Karolinensteinbruch site was recommended due to its favorable geological conditions despite challenges such as distance to district heating networks and risks associated with karst phenomena. The conceptual designs proposed modular and expandable geometries to adapt to Graz's fluctuating urban energy demand. While the study confirms CTES as a viable option for Graz, it emphasizes the need for further detailed investigations into geotechnical and geological properties to ensure successful implementation.
A citizen science report—Tiger mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus) in allotment gardens in Graz, Styria, Austria
A citizen science initiative in Graz, Austria, has confirmed the breeding of Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, in urban allotment gardens. This invasive species, known for transmitting pathogens like dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses, was first reported in Austria in 2012 and later documented in Vienna in 2020. The study identified 217 eggs and 14 adult specimens of Ae. albopictus in Graz, with molecular analysis revealing identical haplotypes among some adults. Graz's mild climate and abundance of green spaces provide ideal conditions for the mosquito's reproduction. While the findings suggest local breeding activity, further monitoring is needed to determine if stable populations can establish themselves in the region.
Analytical assessment of street-level tree canopy in Austrian cities: Identification of re-naturalisation potentials of the urban fabric
Austrian cities, including Graz, face significant gaps in street-level tree canopy coverage, with 54% of areas potentially disconnected from urban greenery. This study reveals that central districts are densely built and lack street trees, while peripheral areas offer more opportunities for re-naturalisation through open-building arrangements. The research used spatial data analytics on georeferenced tree cadastre data and Local Climate Zones (LCZ) maps to identify these gaps in Vienna, Graz, and Linz. It suggests that building-level greening, such as green roofs or facades, could be more effective in central areas, though historic buildings may pose challenges. The study proposes innovative solutions like movable vertical green screens to address these constraints.
Conflictual cultural politics: unpacking local tensions in three Austrian cities
This study reveals that cultural politics in Austria's urban centers are rife with conflict, shaped by power dynamics, agency, and spatial disputes. Focusing on Vienna, Graz, and Linz, it identifies four key conflict types: agential (unequal funding/decision-making), symbolic (instrumentalization of culture), procedural (lack of transparency/collaboration), and spatial (disagreements over public space use). The research, conducted through 30 qualitative interviews, situational mapping, and media analysis between 2020–2022, argues for a conflict-oriented approach to cultural policy. It highlights how COVID-19 both challenged and opened new avenues for public cultural events, underscoring the need to address these tensions in urban planning and governance.
High-resolution, spatial thermal energy demand analysis and workflow for a city district
Despite significant densification of the urban building stock by 88% in Graz, Austria, thermal energy demand for heating and hot water only increases slightly by 4%, while cooling demand surges dramatically by 432%. This counterintuitive finding stems from a novel high-resolution, multi-tool workflow developed for large-scale urban building energy modeling. The approach combines bottom-up, white box methods to simulate full-year dynamic thermal demands with spatial precision, providing hourly and annual data in accessible map formats. Such tools are critical for stakeholders aiming to meet net-zero CO2-equivalent emission targets by offering actionable insights into current and future scenarios.
Installation of hot boxes for conservation in the last nursery roost of Greater Horseshoe Bats Rhinolophus ferrumequinum in Austria
A novel conservation strategy involving the installation of hot boxes has been successfully implemented to support the critically endangered Greater Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) population in Austria. This intervention, the first of its kind in the country, aims to stabilize and potentially enhance thermal conditions within the attic of Schloss Eggenberg in Graz, serving as the species' last known maternity roost. The hot boxes provide a range of microclimates critical for gestation and juvenile development, addressing the urgent need for habitat improvement amid severe population declines across Central Europe. This approach offers a practical solution to mitigate threats faced by isolated bat populations on the brink of extinction.
Shifting Sustainable Mobility Agendas in Graz (Austria) and Hangzhou (China): The Multi-Level Process From Livable to Smart Cities
Sustainable urban mobility agendas in Graz, Austria, and Hangzhou, China, exhibit both global similarities and local divergences despite shared conceptual and technological frameworks. Over a 30-year period, the study reveals how these cities adapted their approaches to sustainable mobility, transitioning from 'livable' to 'smart city' paradigms. Using multi-level governance theory, the research identifies key differences in policy framing and implementation, offering insights for future comparative studies. The findings underscore the dynamic nature of urban sustainability efforts, shaped by local contexts and global influences.
The importance of urban green spaces in the development of smart cities
Urban green spaces (UGSs) play a pivotal role in enhancing residents' lifestyles, health, and economic opportunities within smart cities. A study conducted in Graz, Austria, revealed that increasing UGSs leads to measurable improvements in air quality, even in space-constrained environments, aligning with World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The research, involving semi-structured interviews with residents, officials, and government experts, used MAXQDA software for analysis. Findings underscored the urgent need for larger UGSs to bolster security, economic prospects, and overall well-being. This study provides actionable recommendations for future UGS planning in smart cities, emphasizing their potential as a valid alternative to mitigate urban pollution.
Development of sustainable building standards: Next steps towards climate-friendly buildings in the City of Graz
The City of Graz, Austria, has successfully implemented a methodology to integrate sustainability and climate protection criteria into architectural competitions for public buildings. This approach enables the city to evaluate and rank building concepts based on their climate friendliness using a developed evaluation algorithm. Applied in a real competition, the method demonstrated its effectiveness by ensuring that all participants met the required sustainability aspects while allowing external experts to assess the works accurately. The City of Graz aims to adopt this methodology universally for future competitions, advancing sustainable procurement practices for buildings.
Measuring Urban Change in Travel Texts Using the Example of the City of Graz in the Long Nineteenth Century
Nineteenth-century guidebooks offer measurable insights into urban change, revealing how subjective narratives intertwine with historical reality. This study demonstrates that travel texts can serve as valuable sources for reconstructing perceptions and spatial relationships in the city of Graz, Austria. By analyzing these accounts, researchers can quantify aspects of urban transformation over time. The approach combines qualitative text analysis with quantitative methods to bridge the gap between individual experiences and broader historical trends. This method provides a novel way to study the evolution of historic urban spaces, offering new perspectives on how cities were perceived and documented in the long nineteenth century.
A Smart Right to the City—Grounding Corporate Storytelling and Questioning Smart Urbanism
This study challenges the prevailing notion of smart urbanism, arguing that true 'smartness' lies not in digital infrastructure but in social justice and sustainability. It introduces a 'smart right to the city,' grounded in Henri Lefebvre's framework, which critiques technocapitalist approaches that prioritize corporate interests over equitable urban development. Using Graz, Austria, as a case study, the research examines waste and mobility management strategies, revealing them as spatial and technical fixes that perpetuate inequality without addressing root causes. The paper advocates for alternatives that center on the everyday needs of all inhabitants, emphasizing use value, participation, and appropriation as key components of sustainable urban futures.
Effect of people on placemaking and affective atmospheres in city streets
A key insight from this study is that measuring changes in people's presence in public spaces is crucial for reconstructing affective atmospheres, which significantly influence placemaking. The research employed a systematic review, real scene interpretations, and expert advice to analyze Herrengasse Street in Graz, Austria, and Oxford Street in London, UK. A six-step conceptual framework was developed to prioritize the impact of people's presence on street environments, focusing on perceptual qualities, socio-morphological characteristics, and affective atmospheres. While the study highlights the importance of people's presence in shaping urban spaces, it also calls for further investigation into the effects of post-pandemic changes, such as lockdowns and physical distancing, on placemaking and associated affective atmospheres.
Epiphytic bryophytes and lichens in Graz and Podgorica (Austria and Montenegro)
A comparative study of epiphytic bryophytes and lichens in Graz, Austria, and Podgorica, Montenegro, revealed distinct species distributions and coverage patterns. While Graz exhibited a significantly higher mean epiphytic cover, particularly for lichens, Podgorica showed greater bryophyte diversity and cover. The research identified five urban habitat types—parks, garden city, residential areas, industrial areas, and river-adjacent zones—and found significant variation in species numbers between different tree species, though trunk circumference did not impact species richness. Bryophytes favored northern and western exposures on tree trunks, unlike lichens. Notably, five species were recorded for the first time in Montenegro: Agonimia opuntiella, Caloplaca cerinelloides, Candelariella viae-lacteae, Catapyrenium psoromoides, and Mycobilimbia epixanthoides. The study employed a standardized sampling approach across 165 trees in Graz and 161 in Podgorica, providing insights into urban biodiversity dynamics.
Green roof ecosystem services in various urban development types: A case study in Graz, Austria
Green roofs could be implemented on 87% of the investigated roof area in Graz, Austria, with 63% of these areas identified as having a high need for greening to deliver critical ecosystem services such as microclimate regulation, air quality improvement, stormwater retention, and biodiversity enhancement. A paradox emerged: while roofs in block and row developments are more suitable for greening due to their dimensions and construction, historical perimeter blocks—common in inner-city areas where green roofs are most needed—pose greater challenges. This study highlights the need for tailored greening strategies that account for urban development types and environmental conditions, offering insights applicable to other historically compact European cities.
Revitalizing small urban streams as an instrument of urban planning in creating resilient cities
Revitalizing small urban streams emerges as a cost-effective, proactive strategy for enhancing urban resilience and sustainability. This study demonstrates that restoring these watercourses—often overlooked or buried in dense urban areas—can significantly reduce flood risks from intense rainfall while bolstering ecosystem health, public well-being, social interaction, and climate change adaptation. Through comparative analysis of Graz (Austria) and Oslo (Norway), the research highlights tangible benefits such as improved stormwater management, environmental quality, and land-use efficiency. It further proposes actionable urban planning guidelines to integrate these revitalized watercourses into policy frameworks, offering a scalable model for adapting inherited urban landscapes to climate challenges.
Situating architectural performance: ‘star architecture’ and its roles in repositioning the cities of Graz, Lucerne and Wolfsburg
Star architecture, often associated with the Bilbao effect, does not universally follow the logic of international economic competition. Instead, medium-sized cities like Graz, Lucerne, and Wolfsburg employ it for distinction within their nation-states or to reinvent internal dynamics, often with expressive and symbolic significance rather than purely instrumental outcomes. This study challenges the overarching narrative of replicability by analyzing three case studies: Kunsthaus in Graz, Culture and Congress Centre Lucerne, and Phaeno Science Centre in Wolfsburg. It emphasizes the relational situatedness and plurality of roles star architecture plays in urban regeneration, highlighting its socio-cultural performance beyond economic investment.
Combination of Different Approaches to Infer Local or Regional Contributions to PM2.5 Burdens in Graz, Austria
A study on PM2.5 pollution in Graz, Austria, during January to March 2017 revealed that high particulate matter (PM) levels were driven by a mix of local and regional sources. Researchers used PM10 concentration ratios from urban and background sites, alongside chemical analysis of PM2.5 (including water-soluble ions, organic carbon, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), to distinguish between locally emitted pollutants and those transported regionally. Source apportionment via a macro-tracer model confirmed that while local emissions contributed significantly, regional pollution episodes also played a major role in exceeding EU short-term limits for PM10 on 34 days. This multi-method approach provided clear evidence of the dual nature of PM2.5 burdens, offering insights into air quality management strategies.
Designing Sustainable Cities
By 2050, urban areas will house 70% of the global population, underscoring the critical role of sustainable urban design in addressing environmental and social challenges. This publication highlights seven innovative case studies—including Graz, Detroit, Istanbul, Mexico City, Puebla, and non-location-bound projects—to demonstrate effective strategies for sustainable city development. It evaluates tools such as certification systems, climate-adaptive infrastructure, and novel ecological, architectural, and sociological approaches tailored for mega-cities. The analysis serves as a guide for stakeholders bridging urban design and social impact, offering actionable insights to foster resilience and sustainability in rapidly growing urban environments.
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