September School 2026: Reinvent AUA Vienna
Summer School Competition of Competitions 2026
Summer School Competition of Competitions 2026
Einreichfrist: 03. August 2026
The
three architecture/design departments in Vienna – located at the Academy of Fine Arts, at the University of Applied Arts,
and at the Technical University – are pleased to announce the third edition of their joint educational initiative: September
School – The Competition of Competitions.
September School
takes the form of a contest among several groups of multidisciplinary participants, each led by a duo of professors or instructors
from participating institutions. The groups are not going to design anything, but will develop briefs for an imagined international
competition focused on a specific site in Vienna.
Over the course of four days (3 - 6 September 2026), participants
will craft a compelling conceptual rationale and programmatic framework for the future development of the selected site—addressing
both the why and the what. They will also define how the competition itself should be organised, including phasing, jury composition,
and selection criteria.
This year’s edition focuses on the highly charged site of the former headquarter of the
Austrian Workers' Compensation Board, the AUVA building on Adalbert-Stifter-Straße in the 20th district. Completed in 1976,
this monumental research and administrative centre, designed by architect Kurt Hlaweniczka and civil engineer Kurt Koss, is
considered a prime example of Austrian post-war modernism and the first of its kind.
More information & application
here.
Who can apply
Master’s students in architecture; urban, industrial
and landscape design; urban planning; social design; urban and cultural studies Recent graduates (not more than 1 year ago)
of the Bachelor’s programs in architecture; urban, industrial and landscape design; urban planning; social design; urban and
cultural studies
Jury
International experts
Prize for the winning team
Monetary
Admission
Free
Language
English
ECTS
3 points (for the students of partnering institutions)
Location
Österreichische Postsparkasse
Date
3 - 6 September 2026
Apply
Send a Letter of motivation
(300 words) and a Bio (150 words) to stb@tuwien.ac.at before 23.00 on 03.08.2026. Please,
state your name/surname, current program of studies, name of the institution. Only 40 applicants will be accepted as a result
of the selection procedure.
