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Where should we live? Archtectural possibilites for the inclusion of young homeless people, using a housing project in Vienna's 12th distirict as and example
No full textWohnungs- und Obdachlosigkeit, die aufgrund struktureller oder individuell-bio-grafischer Faktoren jede Person betreffen kann, ist das Ergebnis gesellschafts-, sozial- und insbesondere wohnungspolitischer Entscheidungen. Diese vorliegende Arbeit konstituiert eine historische sowie gegenwärtige Untersuchung der Obdach- und Wohnungslosigkeit in Wien und der Entwicklung eines architektonischen Entwurfs zur Wohnversorgung obdach- oder wohnungsloser Menschen. Historische und wohnungspolitische Aspekte sowie der jeweilige gesellschaftliche Entwicklungsstand bilden Faktoren, welche die allgemeine Wahrnehmung dieses Themas in der Vergangenheit stark beeinflusst haben. Die im Rahmen dieser Arbeit vorgenommene Analyse der Entwicklungen von Obdach- und Wohnungslosigkeit in Wien ab 1900 bis heute zeigt diverse Handlungsmuster, wie mit dieser Thematik wohnpolitisch und architektonisch umgegangen wurde und wird. Einen weiteren Teil des theoretischen Abschnitts dieser Arbeit bildet unter anderem das derzeitige Angebot der Wiener Wohnungslosenhilfe. Das breite Spektrum an Angeboten und Möglichkeiten ebendieser sowie potenzielle Entwicklungsperspektiven werden neben der Erfassung individueller Bedürfnisse unterschiedlicher Personengruppen untersucht. Nach Untersuchung ausgewählter Referenzen werden die Erkenntnisse dieser Analyse in einen architektonischen Entwurf, welcher sich an Wohnraum für junge obdach- oder wohnungs-lose Erwachsene orientiert, übersetzt. Der Bauplatz für dieses Projekt, der in einer urbanen, von Heterogenität geprägten Umgebung eingebettet ist, befindet sich in der Arndtstraße im 12. Wiener Gemeindebezirk. Vor allem im Hinblick auf junge obdach- und wohnungslose Erwachsene fehlt es derzeit an spezifischen An-geboten im Kontext der Wohnraumversorgung. Die vorliegende Arbeit legt den Fokus auf diese Personengruppe und bietet unter anderem Überlegungen und Ideen sowie einen architektonischen Entwurf in Bezug auf soziale Wohnraumgestaltung.Homelessness results from societal, social, and particularly from housing policy decisions, which can affect any individual due to structural or individual-biographical factors. This paper constitutes a historical as well as a contemporary examination of homelessness in Vienna and the development of an architectural design for the provision of housing of homeless or insecurely housed individuals. Historical as well as housing policy aspects, along with the respective societal development status, are factors that have significantly influenced the general perception of this issue in the past. The analysis of the developments in homelessness in Vienna from 1900 to the present, conducted within the context of this paper, reveals various patterns of how this issue has been and is being addressed in terms of housing policy and architecture. Another focus of the theoretical section of this work is the current support system for the people affected by homelessness in Vienna. The wide range of services and possibilities offered, as well as potential development perspectives, are examined alongside the assessment of individual needs of different demographic groups. Following the examination of selected references, the insights gained from this analysis are transferred into an architectural design focused on housing for young adults who are homeless or inadequately housed. The building site for this project, embedded in an urban environment characterized by heterogeneity, is located at Arndtstraße in the 12th district of Vienna. Currently, there is a lack of specific housing provisions for young homeless and insecurely housed adults. This work focuses on this demographic group and offers considerations and ideas, including an architectural design concerning social housing development
Sport und Stadt: Ein Weg zwischen sportlicher Nutzung und öffentlicher Mitte
No full textSport und Stadt stehen in ständiger Wechselwirkung. Sportanlagen,eingebunden in die städtische Infrastruktur, sind seit der Antike wichtige Bestandteile sozialer Interaktion, Bildung, städtischer Identität und körperlicher Ertüchtigung. Auch heute sind sie hybride Bausteine, die über ihren funktionalen Charakter hinausgehen. Dabei erzeugen sie ein Spannungsfeld der Gegensätze- zwischen Abgrenzen und Öffnen, dem Trennen und Verbinden verschiedener Nutzergruppen und Funktionen. Klar definierte, private Räume für sportliche Aktivitäten stehen allgemeinen Flächen für die Öffentlichkeit gegenüber.Diese Arbeit befasst sich mit der Aufwertung und Neugestaltung eines Sportareals in einer heterogenen Bebauungsstruktur, inmitten von Einfamilienhäusern, Reihenhaussiedlungen, großmaßstäblichen Strukturen und naturbelassenen Grünzonen. Es soll eine verbindende Achse mit privaten und öffentlichen Charakter entstehen.Sports in urban spaces play a significant role in daily life. Since antiquity sports facilities served as impotant elements of social interaction,education, urban identity, and physical exercise. Today they function as hybrid components that go beyond their functional character.They create a field of tension between opposites- between separation and openness, between dividing and connecting different user groups or functions. Clearly defined private spaces for athletic activities stand in contrast to general areas for public use.This work focuses on the redesign of a sports facility within a heterogeneous built environment, surrounded by single-family homes,row-houses, large-scale structures, and naturally preserved greenspaces. The aim is to establish an axis that acts as connector integrating private and public spaces
Spinnerei Rohrbach - revitalization and reuse of a former textile industry monument
No full textIndustrielle Großanlagen wie die ehemalige „Spinnerei Rohrbach“ prägten über Jahrzehnte hinweg die wirtschaftliche, soziale und räumliche Identität vieler österreichischer Regionen. Mit dem Niedergang der heimischen Textilindustrie und der Verlagerung der Produktion in Länder mit deutlich geringerem sozialen und ökologischen Standards verlor auch die ehemalige Spinnerei in Rohrbach am Steinfelde ihre ursprüngliche Funktion. Die daraus resultierenden Leerstände führen zunehmend zu strukturellem Verfall und setzen die betroffenen Gebäude einem hohen Abrissdruck aus. Dieser Trend gefährdet nicht nur wichtige Zeugnisse der österreichischen Industrie- und Architekturgeschichte, sondern auch das langfristige Potenzial dieser Bauten als wertvolle räumliche Ressourcen. Immer wichtiger wird somit die Bewahrung materieller und immaterieller Kulturgüter, denn diese stärken lokale Identitäten, reduzieren den Ressourcenverbrauch im Bauwesen und bieten gleichzeitig neue Nutzungsperspektiven für die Gesellschaft, Kultur und Wirtschaft in der Umgebung. Anhand des Spinnereiareals wird untersucht, wie historische Produktionsstätten durch ein adaptives Umnutzungskonzept auf zeitgenössische und individuelle Bedürfnisse reagieren können und welche planerischen, denkmalpflegerischen und ökologischen Kriterien dabei zu berücksichtigen sind und zu ihrem Vorteil genutzt werden können. Das Ergebnis der Analyse verdeutlicht, dass die Revitalisierung solcher Industriedenkmäler einen wichtigen Beitrag zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung von Regionen leisten kann. Sie schafft neue Nutzungsmöglichkeiten und verhindert den Verlust wertvoller historischer Bausubstanz, welche oftmals identitätsstiftend für ihre Region sein kann. Zudem soll ein Zeichen gegen die „Wegwerf-Mentalität“ gesetzt werden, die sowohl im Bausektor als auch in globalen Lieferketten, vor allem in der Textilindustrie, sichtbar wird. Die Arbeit unterstreicht damit die Notwendigkeit, bestehende Gebäude und ihre Geschichte nicht als Belastung, sondern als Potenzial für zukünftige Entwicklungen zu betrachten.Large industrial complexes, such as the former “Spinnerei Rohrbach“, shaped the economic, social and spatial identity of many Austrian regions for decades. With the decline of the domestic textile industry and the relocation of production to countries with significantly lower social and environmental standards, the former spinning mill in Rohrbach am Steinfelde also lost its original function. The resulting vacancies are increasingly leading to structural decay and putting the affected buildings under high pressure to be demolished. This trend not only endangers important evidence of Austrian industrial and architectural history, but also the long-term potential of these buildings as valuable spatial resources. The preservation of material and immaterial cultural assets is therefore becoming increasingly important, as these strengthen local identities, reduce resource consumption in the construction industry and, at the same time, offer new perspectives for use by society, culture and the economy in the surrounding area. The spinning mill area is used to examine how historical production sites can respond to contemporary and individual needs through an adaptive reuse concept, and which planning, monument preservation and ecological criteria need to be taken into account and can be used to their advantage. The results of the analysis show that the revitalisation of such industrial monuments can make an important contribution to the sustainable development of regions. It creates new possibilities for use and prevents the loss of valuable historical buildings, which can often be a source of identity for their region. In addition, it aims to take a stand against the “throwaway-mentality“ that is evident both in the construction sector and in global supply chains, especially in the textile industry. The thesis therefore underlines the need to view existing buildings and their history not as a burden, but as potential for future development
Using democracy to award research funding: an observational study
No full textWinning funding for health and medical research usually involves a lengthy application process. With success rates under 20% most of this time has no immediate value. An alternative funding system that could save time is using democracy to award the most deserving researchers based on votes from the research community. We aimed to test how such a system could work and examine some potential biases. We used an online survey with a convenience sample of Australian researchers. Researchers were asked to name the 10 scientists currently working in Australia that they thought most deserved funding for future research. For comparison we used recent winners from large national fellowship schemes that used traditional peer review. We received 1119 eligible votes from 169 voters. Voting took a median of 5 minutes (inter-quartile range 3 to 10 minutes). Extrapolating to a national voting scheme we estimate 599 working days of voting time (95% CI 490 to 728), compared with 827 working days for the current peer review system. The gender ratio in the votes was 45:55 (female:male) compared with 34:66 in recent fellowship winners, although this could be partly explained by Simpson’s paradox as the votes were not stratified by research field. Voters were biased towards their own institution, with an additional 1.6 votes per ballot (inter-quartile range 0.8 to 2.2) above the expected number. Voting would take less time than traditional peer review and would spread the workload over many more reviewers. The study provides some support for using democracy based on time saved and gender balance, but also showed evidence of friendly voting
Investigating the influence of the physical environment on psychiatric nurses wellbeing and professional interactions: A convergent parallel mixed-method study protocol
No full textNurses in psychiatric hospitals face demanding working conditions, where high emotional burdens, unpredictable patient behavior, and safety concerns contribute to stress. Research highlights the significant impact of the physical environment on healthcare workers' experiences, with environmental factors either reducing or increasing stress levels, affecting professional interactions, and influencing job satisfaction and well-being. Despite growing recognition of these effects, there remains a need for robust, evidence-based methodologies to systematically examine how specific spatial features impact psychiatric nurses' experiences. This study protocol aims to develop and test scalable and structured methods to evaluate the influence of the physical environment on stress levels, professional interactions, and spatial perceptions among psychiatric nurses. Conducting research in psychiatric hospitals presents unique challenges, requiring methodologies that consider the sensitive nature of the setting. Issues such as patient confidentiality, changeable work dynamics, and psychological demands on staff require a carefully tailored data collection approach. This study protocol addresses outlined concerns by selecting methods and equipment that minimize disruptions while ensuring reliable and meaningful data collection. Observations are conducted unobtrusively, and the study design prioritizes ethical considerations, ensuring participant comfort and patient privacy. The study employs a convergent parallel mixed methods design, simultaneously collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data. Quantitative measures include wearable sensors tracking heart rate variability, light exposure, and physical activity alongside surveys and systematic in-person observations of professional interactions. Qualitative data, gathered through semi-structured interviews, explores nurses' perceptions of their work environment and stress levels. The study aims to provide new insights relevant to interdisciplinary research, demonstrating the value of integrating architectural and healthcare perspectives to improve the design of therapeutic and work-friendly environments
Interaction of Solar Wind Energy Helium Ions with Enstatite Surfaces Progressively Altered by Simulated Impact Melting
No full textThe interactions between micrometeoroid impacts and solar wind on the surface of the Moon remain a major area of investigation in the space weathering field. In this study, we first irradiated Fe-bearing enstatite [(Mg,Fe)₂Si₂O₆] (1.50 at% Fe) with a nanosecond-pulse UV excimer laser (λ = 248 nm) to simulate micrometeoroid impacts, using fluences above and below the ablation threshold to produce four different impact-processed regions. Next, we irradiated the surfaces with 4 keV He⁺ to explore how prior impact processing changes the way solar wind ions interact with mineral surfaces. We performed comprehensive micro-scale to nano-scale characterization of the experimental products using scanning electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. In the samples irradiated above the ablation threshold, we observed the coexistence of nanophase Fe (npFe⁰) and Fe³⁺-bearing glass, indicating that npFe⁰ formation was driven by charge disproportionation. In the sample irradiated at the highest laser fluence, we produced helium-bearing vesicular npFe⁰, an enigmatic space weathering product known to occur widely on the Moon. Finally, we show that the temperature of impact melting and the phases produced by impact processing have a direct influence on the target’s sputtering behavior and overall helium capture capacity. Our findings demonstrate that micrometeoroid impacts play a critical role in modifying the crystal structure and chemistry of regolith grain surfaces and that variation in impact processing can fundamentally shift the subsequent interactions that solar wind ions have with affected surfaces
Rapid, Energy-Efficient CFRP manufacturing via filament winding of frontal polymerization resins
No full textRadical-Induced Cationic Frontal Polymerization (RICFP) was successfully adapted for rapid and energy-efficient curing of carbon fiber-reinforced composites using industrial filament winding. Two aerospace-grade epoxy systems based on BADGE and BFDGE were formulated following a broad screening of reactive diluents. To meet manufacturing requirements, the curing process was modified into a thermally supported frontal polymerization (TSFP) approach, wherein a self-sustaining curing front is triggered locally and maintained via continuous external heat input to compensate for thermal losses. Using this method, composites with fiber volume fractions exceeding 58% were cured in significantly less time and with reduced energy consumption compared to standard industrial oven processes. Mechanical characterization showed increased interlaminar shear strength, lower outgassing, and comparable axial tensile properties relative to a reference BADGE system. Other properties (transverse tensile, torsion, compression, and glass transition) were lower but may be improved through further resin optimization. Finally, process scalability and performance were demonstrated through the manufacture and testing of a composite overwrapped pressure vessel, which withstood internal pressures of up to 400 bar
Sustainability reporting under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) Subtitle: Status quo in Austrian companies with a view to comparative data from Denmark
No full textNachhaltigkeitsberichte sind bereits seit Anfang der 2000er-Jahre Bestandteil der Unternehmenspraxis, zunächst meist freiwillig in Form von CSR-Berichten (Corporate Social Responsibility). Erstmals durch die 2014 veröffentlichte EU-Richtlinie 2014/95/EU wurden die größten Unternehmen zur Erstellung einer nichtfinanziellen Erklärung verpflichtet. 2023 trat die CSRD-Richtlinie (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) der Europäischen Union in Kraft, die schrittweise eine größere Anzahl an Unternehmen zur Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung verpflichtet. Das Inkrafttreten der neuen Richtlinie hat die österreichischen Unternehmen vor Herausforderungen gestellt. Vor allem die mit der Richtlinie verbundenen European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) mit unzähligen Datenpunkten sowie die doppelte Wesentlichkeitsanalyse über die gesamte Unternehmensstruktur stellten sich als ressourcenintensiv in der Umsetzung dar. Die Herausforderungen wurden von der EU-Kommission erkannt und im April 2025 trat die „Stop-the-Clock“-Richtlinie in Kraft, die einen Großteil der Unternehmen von der Berichtspflicht befreit und die Einführungszeitpunkte verschob. Ziel der Arbeit ist es, den Status quo der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung in Österreich zu analysieren. Hierzu wurden fünf qualitative Interviews mit Nachhaltigkeitsexpert:innen sowie eine quantitative Umfrage der 500 umsatzstärksten österreichischen Unternehmen durchgeführt. Ergänzend wird eine vergleichbare Studie aus Dänemark aus dem Jahr 2023 einbezogen. Diese wird den Resultaten aus der österreichischen Erhebung gegenübergestellt, um Gemeinsamkeiten, Unterschiede, aber auch Entwicklungen in der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung hervorzuheben.Sustainability reports have been part of corporate practice since the early 2000s, initially mostly on a voluntary basis in the form of CSR (corporate social responsibility) reports. The EU Directive 2014/95/EU, published in 2014, was the first to require the largest companies to prepare a non-financial statement. In 2023, the European Union's CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) came into force, gradually requiring a larger number of companies to report on sustainability. The entry into force of the new directive has presented Austrian companies with challenges. In particular, the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) associated with the directive, with countless data points and the double materiality analysis across the entire corporate structure, proved to be resource-intensive to implement. The challenges were recognised by the EU Commission, and in April 2025, the “Stop the Clock” directive came into force, exempting the majority of companies from the reporting obligation and postponing the implementation dates. The aim of this thesis is to analyse the status quo of sustainability reporting in Austria. To this end, five qualitative interviews with sustainability experts and a quantitative survey of the 500 Austrian companies with the highest turnover were conducted. In addition, a comparable study from Denmark from 2023 is included. This is compared with the results of the Austrian survey in order to highlight similarities, differences and developments in sustainability reporting