08.02.2019

Friday February 8, 2019 | 2:00pm – 6:00pm
HS V | Alte Technik | TU Graz

The Institute of Architectural Theory, History of Art and Cultural Studies invites you to the fourth research lab in a series of events addressing the work of Ferdinand Schuster (1920 – 1972). Beginning in the 1950s, Schuster was one of the leading thinkers of modern architecture in Styria. In his theoretical reflections on architecture he considered the cultural, social, and political dimensions of building. As of 1964 Schuster was Chair of Architecture and Design at the Technical College of Graz, and as such was also a teacher to an entire generation of Graz architecture students.

Research Lab #4 is dedicated to Ferdinand Schuster’s architectural work through the lens of society during his time and society today. Starting in the mid-1960s, Schuster’s written work – such as “Architecture and Politics” (1965 | on the influence of architecture on society), “Versus populum” (1967 | on church architecture and their environment), and “Architecture as Medium” (1971 | on the consideration of environment as architecture) – demonstrates his theoretical focus on the reciprocal relationship between the built environment and its users. This perspective is visible in both Schuster’s buildings and in his day-to-day life. Social responsibility and acceptance, (construction) politics and interdisciplinary networking, theory and implementation: these are just a few pairs of terms that will be used in the laboratory to analyze Schuster’s work.  

Welcome and moderation:
Daniel Gethmann (Institute of Architectural Theory, History of Art and Cultural Studies | TU Graz)

Speakers:
Sabine Christian (Building Department | City of Kapfenberg)
Heimo Kaindle (Diocesan Museum Graz)
Antje Senarclens de Grancy (Institute of Architectural Theory, History of Art and Cultural Studies | TU Graz)