Master's Thesis AR · Summer Semester 2025 · Simon Andreas Meindl

Urban transformation extends far beyond physical construction. During periods of change, new spatial and social boundaries emerge that can divide neighbourhoods, weaken existing networks, and restrict access to public spaces. At the same time, the interests of existing and new residents often collide, resulting in social tensions, exclusion, and unequal access to urban space. Social spaces are frequently considered only at a later stage of the planning process, leaving valuable opportunities for interaction, participation, and community building unused. These challenges are particularly evident at the urban fringe, where questions of diversity and inclusion are widely discussed in city centres but are often not translated into appropriate spatial strategies within areas undergoing transformation.

The thesis understood these challenges not as inevitable side effects of urban development but as opportunities for an alternative spatial approach. At its core is the concept of a collective corridor, designed to overcome temporary divisions and reconnect fragmented urban spaces. The corridor functions not only as a physical link but also as a social and programmatic space that encourages interaction, appropriation, and collective use. By integrating social, spatial, and temporal dimensions of transformation, the thesis understands space not as a static condition but as a process that can be continuously negotiated and reshaped.

To support this approach, the thesis developed a series of spatial structures and typologies that combine the adaptive reuse of existing buildings with flexible temporary interventions. These interventions are designed to evolve over time, allowing for appropriation, modification, and further development throughout the transformation process. Planning, construction, use, and adaptation become a collective learning process in which social structures are made visible and continuously strengthened.

The proposal is centred on the needs of current and future residents. Its spatial framework consists of the Corridor as the project's connective backbone, the Intervilla as a multifunctional hub for learning, exchange, and community activities, the Workshop Hall as a place for construction, training, and maintenance, and the Observation Tower as a landmark and symbol of transformation. These elements are complemented by low-threshold initiatives such as MachPlatz! and the SichtBar!, which encourage early participation and the collective appropriation of the neighbourhood.