Who is Wonderland Platform for Architecture?
Wonderland is an international platform dedicated to promoting research and exchange among emerging architects and planners. The organization initiates research and exchange projects related to our built environment and society, and publishes the results as publications, films, webinars and other dissemination materials.
Wonderland has initiated a series of long-lasting formats, from lectures and workshops to exchanges and movie screenings, and is active with its grass roots reach and influence, in a series of EU funded projects related to research and capacity building. It is also quite active in maintaining its local reach, and initiating projects that highlight local organizations.
As Xsentrikarts, we’ve had the pleasure of working with wonderland on a series of films that highlight interesting and inspiring stories, people, initiatives and organizations that change the way we live, interact with our built space and approach our environment.
Wonderland Films - our stories
XsentrikArts has been collaborating with wonderland platform for European Architecture on a series of short documentary films (funded by the Austrian Federal Chancellery) , exploring unique and inspiring stories of Viennese artists and initiatives that promote sustainable living and change the way we interact with out built environments, whether it be through projects and products or artistic endeavors.
Three films have been created by filmmaker Yilmaz Vurucu so far:
“Plastic Love” follows Plastic (recycling) artist Julian Jankovic, and “Es muss doch Gehen” tells the inspiring story of Treecycle: A Viennese collective creating ecologically and socially sustainable “street furniture” in the form of unique and transportable ecosystems. The third film is on Vinzirast, a Viennese icon. The film tells the story of a unique co-living space providing residencies to homeless people and students under the same roof.
Creative Cluster, tells the story of a creative co-working hub and exchange space situated in a former school building in one of Vienna’s inner districts.
Plastic Love.
The story of Julian Jankovic
Julian Jankovic’s work is characterised by a passion for the new artistic use of recycled materials and a certain understanding of community. In this context, the material plastic with its versatility has always played a central role in his art; by experimenting a lot with it and its processing, he has created many inspiring projects in recent years.
One of them is particularly focusing on participation – It is about gathering plastic caps from and for the community to create new sustainable objects in Florisdorf. A district that has it’s own challenges – through these projects, he aims not only to strengthen the community, but also to give residents a deeper and more long-term understanding of recycling.
We spent a day with Julian, walked around the district with him, and visited his atelier in Vienna (Floridsdorf), where we discuss how and why he does what he does.
A Yilmaz Vurucu film.
Produced by Hannah Breit.
Executive producer: Bahanur Nasya.
A Yilmaz Vurucu film.
Produced by Hannah Breit.
Executive producer: Bahanur Nasya.
Es muss doch gehen! The story of Treecycle
Climate change is challenging cities to transform. Cities become more and more heat islands. One reason for this is the high percentage of sealed ground and mineral surfaces – as well as the lack of green areas that can transpire stored rainwater into the atmosphere – therefore cooling their surroundings.
Treecycle approaches these problems with shared experiences in architecture, ecology and sustainable design. They contribute to the transformation of our cities in a tangible way.
The Treecycle set up collects rainwater, a water tower stores it in recycled industrial tanks and slowly evaporates it via a tree, creating a cooler microclimate. In public spaces Treecycle generates areas which allow for relaxation, cooling off and reconnecting with nature.
We spent a day with the Treecycle team. We met Treecycle in their office in the Taborstraße and went with them on a tour to Zukunftshof where they have their workshop and then to Columbusplatz in Vienna Favoriten where there first urban eco-system is set up.
The Vinzirast Story
We visit VinziRast Mittendrin. Located in the heart of Vienna, nestled close to the Main University, this innovative co-living project offers co-living spaces, a restaurant, workshops and community spaces, among others.
The social initiative is an ambitious volunteer-based organisation that aims to give a second chance at life for refugees and formerly homeless people The story of VinziRast, with its various spaces and projects is a tale of solidarity and social change.
We speak with the residents and provide an overview of the variety of activities this unique hub, nestled in one of Vienna’s posh and expensive innerdistricts. We also delve into the history of Vinzirast and discover how it came into being.
We spent a day at Vinzirast with Robert Körner and explored the amazing building and project.
A Yilmaz Vurucu film.
Produced by Hannah Breit.
Executive producer: Bahanur Nasya.
A Yilmaz Vurucu film.
Produced by Hannah Breit.
Executive producer: Bahanur Nasya.
The Creative Cluster Story
The 5th District of Vienna is home to a very unique incubator for arts: The creative Cluster.
In this video, we get to know how the cluster functions, walk through it’s halls and corridors, and speak with some of the artists and businesses active in this renovated and repurposed former school building.