Unfolding Edges – A Pavilion for Public Discourse

Students: Sidika Cupuroglu, Katerina Suchankova

Unfolding Edges – A Pavilion for Public Discourse – is a temporary transmedia pavilion designed to foster public dialogue, collaboration, and engagement in shaping Vienna’s urban future. Commissioned for Gebietsbetreuung Stadterneuerung (GB), the city’s district renewal offices, it provides a shared space where representatives and residents can connect, discuss, and influence urban development together. GB plays a crucial role in improving neighborhood quality, promoting inclusivity, and empowering community-driven planning. By inviting the public into these conversations, the pavilion fosters transparency and strengthens citizen participation in decision-making processes.

Set in Schottentor, one of Vienna’s most dynamic public spaces and a major transit hub, the pavilion ensures accessibility, visibility, and active engagement with a diverse community. At its core is the concept of the table, a symbol of unity and exchange, integrated into a multi-layered architectural framework. The ground level serves as the primary gathering space, where discussions take place in real-time. Above, an archive space preserves the dialogues, recordings, and protocols of past conversations, allowing visitors to revisit previous debates and decisions.

Beyond being a physical meeting place, the pavilion functions as a living, interactive archive, continuously documenting and broadcasting discussions. This transmedia approach ensures that urban planning remains an open, participatory process, where ideas and decisions evolve through collective dialogue. By merging live debate, public accessibility, and historical documentation, Unfolding Edges embodies a forward-thinking vision for inclusive and transparent city-making in Vienna.