Gelebte Utopie

The Werkgruppe Graz designed the terraced housing estate in Graz-St. Peter in 1965, during a period of societal upheaval. The complex was eventually built between 1972 and 1978. The planning group—members of the avant-garde artists’ association Forum Stadtpark—took a stand against the established system of residential construction, which was characterized by monotone design and the urban sprawl of single-family homes. Instead, they championed the utopian approach of involving residents in the planning process, which was reflected in the development’s basic structuralist framework with adaptable living units. Comprised of four terraced housing blocks in exposed concrete at the edge of Graz, the estate’s sculptural, brutalist appearance received international acclaim. Gelebte Utopie is the first book to provide a collection of texts of architectural commentary and context on the settlement. It additionally offers insights into the inhabitants’ living spaces and is enriched with artistic projects.