Range of services
In Austria, there are around 5,000 executing architects. They advise, draft, design and plan construction projects and accompany their implementation. These architectural firms offer a broad range of services, from the entire structural engineering and the design of interiors to urban planning and spatial planning. From a complete new-build to redevelopment, reconstruction and preservation of buildings, Austrian architectural firms offer their expertise at both national and international level.
The in-depth training contributes to the high quality of the planning "Made in Austria".
With the Austrian architectural services, the good collaboration with other sectors and the special expertise in the topics of sustainability, conscious handling of materials and in safety management should also be emphasised.
Austria's architectural firms include traditional companies with a long history which implement projects worldwide but there are also in particular small firms that are attracting the public's attention with special projects. For instance, the building of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, the Musée des Confluences in Lyon, France and the Dalian International Conference Center in China bear the stamp of an Austrian architectural firm.
Timber construction
When it comes to timber construction, Austria leads the way. In 2015, the "HoHo Vienna" was presented to the media. With its 24 floors, the high-rise wooden building is the highest of its kind anywhere in the world. The requirement for this mix is an innovative construction system that ensures maximum flexibility of the usable spaces. Bracing concrete cores are used for development; the wooden construction for the open usage of the building is docked onto them. The percentage of wood construction here is an impressive 74%.
Focus on sustainability
The passive house technology from Austria is also in international demand. Of all documented passive houses, one in five is located in Austria. Worldwide, almost 40% of the energy reference area (2.58 million square metres) comes from Austria.
In the field of sustainable building, a great deal has been done in the last few decades. The legal specifications have changed and the technical possibilities have increasingly improved. PlusEnergy houses are now being built, i.e. buildings that produce more energy than they use. Austria's architectural firms are showing a particular openness here for the work of material research thanks to which e.g. facades can be used to generate energy.
Experts from Austria
Austria's architects have an in-depth, specific training. In Austria, a degree in architecture is possible at the following training institutions:
- Technical University of Vienna
- Graz University of Technology
- University of Applied Arts Vienna
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna
- University of Innsbruck
- Joanneum University of Applied Sciences Graz
- New Design University St. PöltenCarinthia University of Applied Sciences
- Carinthia University of Applied Sciences