City Lab

City Lab – a mixed reality-based space module – is an instrument for creative networked collaboration, designed for world-wide usage. This modular environment is flexible due to an implemented innovative technology and a novel workflow. Enriched by mobile and virtual elements a broad spectrum of spatial settings is possible.

The aim of the City Lab project is the development and realization of a radical vision of the new city lab for knowledge workers.  The raw material predominantly processed and re-processed in this lab is information. This flexibility will make possible: a) the dislocated user can quickly and seamlessly continue work at a new location and b) “on-demand” working environments to be created according to any given requirement.

One of City Lab’s specific application fields is the knowledge-based economy. We assume that in the near future this economy will require new socio-spatial environments being able to offer optimal working conditions to a work style characterized by increased mobility, especially for small enterprises. The preferred locations for City Lab implementation are empty shops at the street level within existing buildings in urban inner-city areas. The so-called “dying streets” with decreased economic power and loss of function on behalf of capital shift to outskirts, can be found in every middle-sized European city.

City Lab growth simulation

Credits | Design team: ORTLOS – Ivan Redi, Andrea Redi, Georg Flachbart, Emil Gruber with Florian Absenger, Gudrun Jöller, Marko Russo, Dragan Danicic | Scientific Partner: Institute of Computer Graphics and Knowledge Visualization Graz University of Technology, Prof. Sven Havemann | Institute of Urban Development TUGraz, Prof.Grigor Doytchinov | Support: City of Graz Departments for Culture, Economy & Tourism, Science and Research; Country of Styria, department for culture, bmu:kk . KUNST Republic of Austria; Creative Industries Styria, Institute of Styrian & Carinthian Architects.