Lavanttal Technology Park

In St. Paul im Lavanttal, Carinthia, Austria, a technology park is to be developed in the immediate vicinity of the new railway station, focusing on smart materials and the circular economy. To this end, TPL Technologiepark Lavanttal GmbH launched an EU-wide open competition, in which 55 architectural practices took part. The brief called for a concept that took into account the built environment, open spaces and transport areas. In addition, a implementation plan for the first construction phase was required. The entry ‘Five Clusters in the Landscape’ by schneider+schumacher, in collaboration with Rainer Schmidt Landscape Architects, received an honourable mention.

The basic urban design concept is based on five compact clusters that extend gradually from the railway station towards the town centre and the surrounding countryside. Each cluster forms a distinct phase with its own address, connection to open space and functional logic. The five clusters divide the site into manageable building plots and construction phases, creating a robust framework for long-term development, flexible expansion and future changes of use. The first cluster is situated directly next to the railway station and marks the start of the technology park. A prominent feature marks the entrance as a landmark, aids orientation and serves as a visible symbol of the new technology park. The remaining four clusters are arranged along a continuous landscape corridor – a key urban planning element here is that the visual axis between the railway station and the Benedictine Abbey is preserved.

The judging panel gave a positive assessment of the site layout, the possibility of phased completion and the option for further development over the planned project duration. The proposed open space also promises a high quality of environment and a wide range of potential uses, according to the jury.