{"id":18014,"date":"2023-07-11T13:29:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-11T11:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.univie.ac.at\/?p=18014"},"modified":"2023-07-13T11:10:03","modified_gmt":"2023-07-13T09:10:03","slug":"4cities-spring-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.univie.ac.at\/en\/studies\/4cities-spring-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Transforming Superblocks to Super-Gr\u00e4tzl: 4CITIES Spring School on methods and transdisciplinary skills 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

Delving into urban complexity by researching Superblocks, or Super-Gr\u00e4tzl, as coined in Vienna, underpins the need for inter- and transdisciplinary skills and in-depth knowledge about different methodologies for urban studies. Therefore, for the second year in a row, the Urban Studies working group<\/a> at University of Vienna organised a 5-day long Spring School on transdisciplinary methods and skills for the current cohort of 36 international students of the Erasmus Mundus joint Master in Urban Studies (4CITIES)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Spring School took place from March 31st<\/sup> to April 5th<\/sup>, 2023. The planning concept of Superblocks served as a common thread for testing and experimenting with the newly learned methods. Framed by a guest lecture on \u201cNeighbourhood Experiments & Superblocks\u201d by Melis G\u00fcnay<\/a> (HafenCity Universit\u00e4t Hamburg), the students participated in different methods training seminars, a workshop on science communication and moderation by Marlene Nowotny (ORF Science<\/a>), and visited the residential project Alterlaa<\/a> as well as the refugee relief organization \u201cHouse of Hope\u201d<\/a> for even more urban inspiration. On the last day, the students applied their newly attained skills and presented their creative ideas for the implementation of the Super-Gr\u00e4tzl in Vienna.<\/p>\n

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Visiting the refugee relief organisation \u201cHouse of Hope\u201d. The residential project Alterlaa can be seen in the background. \u00a9 Ruth Siebenaller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why Superblocks and Super-Gr\u00e4tzl?<\/h3>\n

The concept of Superblocks involves the creation of large urban residential blocks that prioritize pedestrian and bicycle traffic over that of automobiles. Superblocks are typically designed with open and green spaces to benefit the residents. In turn, these features aim to reduce traffic and noise pollution within the residential block, promote more sustainable modes of transportation, and create more liveable and attractive urban spaces.<\/p>\n

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First implemented in Barcelona, the Superblock concept has been reproduced in various cities around the globe. The City of Vienna, for instance, started a pilot project \u201cSuper-Gr\u00e4tzl Favoriten\u201d<\/a> in the 10th District, but with a Viennese twist, as \u201cGr\u00e4tzl\u201d is a local term meaning neighbourhood or immediate surroundings. Other initiatives, e.g. the Agendagruppe Lichtental<\/a>, organized by residents also embrace the goal of transforming the Gr\u00e4tzl Lichtental, situated in the 9th<\/sup> district, into a Super-Gr\u00e4tzl through bottom-up, citizen driven processes.<\/p>\n

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Methods training<\/h3>\n

Urban challenges are complex and multifaceted: Poverty, socio-spatial inequality, or climate burdens cannot be solved by technical or engineering solutions only as they are deeply embedded in social, economic, political, and cultural settings. To enable the 4CITIES students to better understand and address these complex problems, the Spring School offered training in transdisciplinary skills and three different methods courses:<\/p>\n