unesco - keutschacher lake

sciencewalk seebad keutschach
the special aspect of this project is that the main attraction – the unesco world heritage site in keutschach – is invisible. the goal is to make the invisible perceptible or visible in translated form through newly created architecture and design elements. another distinctive feature of this competition is the variety of sites to be activated: lake property, bathing area, pathways, roundabout, marsh, and the archaeological site itself. each location has its own atmosphere.
lake property: an idyllic, secluded park, untouched and without lake use.
bathing area: open to the lake and lively in summer; projecting as a peninsula into the water.
in response to the question of how to make architectural and design interventions widely visible – in other words, in search of a landmark that is accessible year-round and has the potential for new economic uses to enliven the region – we sought to optimally utilize and amplify the potential of the sites to be activated.
we asked ourselves the classic “hotel question”: a room with a balcony and lake view, or a room overlooking the park/street (for the same price)?
when at a lake – with the picturesque surroundings offered by lake keutschach – one wants a view of the lake, or even better, to be in the middle of it via a jetty. conceptually, to better sense the aura of the archaeological site (what life at the lake was like back then), the view and the path out onto the lake are crucial. with the aim of creating a widely visible landmark – a “sciencewalk” that incorporates these considerations and makes the beauty of the landscape an all-year-round experience – the decision was made for a jetty intervention at the bathing area. to concentrate attention and additionally focus on the new landmark, knowledge transfer (replicas, information, qr codes, etc.) is also integrated here. at the same time, the bathing area receives a unique upgrade with the potential to become a year-round attraction with supraregional significance.

modular design concept and recognition value
the unesco-blue sciencewalk is a widely visible landmark on lake keutschach and clearly visible from pyramidenkogel. beginning with a traffic island and wayfinding system, the sciencewalk forms the “backbone” extending from the bathing area to the lake, to which all other proposed modules of the thematic chain “pile dwellings at lake keutschach” can be connected.

unesco blue as a visual anchor and wayfinding system
searching for a distinctive design element with high recognition value and positive connotations, which simultaneously unifies the numerous sites and modules, the blue of the unesco logo proved ideal. unesco world heritage serves as the unifying “umbrella” under which the pile dwellings are shown and protected. unesco is a positively connoted “brand,” and its logo is immediately recognizable, especially its color. the logo color of unesco and the un has even become proverbial – e.g., “blue helmets.” the color retains its functionality in every season and remains striking:
summer: associations with sea, caribbean
winter: snow and ice
autumn: strong contrast against autumn foliage
establishing the sciencewalk as a year-round accessible landmark creates the potential for new economic uses and revitalizes the entire region. it becomes a widely visible landmark that transforms the beauty of the landscape into a year-round experience.

path description – jetty
starting from the bathing area, the jetty rises gradually (4% slope) and zigzags over the bathing area out into the lake. four covered bays (expandable) provide space for analogue and digital knowledge transfer, including replicas. at the height of the boating arena, the jetty levels out and then steps gradually into the water behind the reed belt, pointing toward the archaeological site. the steps invite sitting and lingering. with views of the site and the knowledge gained, the landscape becomes a projection surface for images and ideas of life around 4000 years ago. integrating knowledge transfer along the jetty (replicas, information, qr codes, etc.) additionally focuses attention on the new landmark and concentrates visitors at the bathing area, enhancing its unique value.


knowledge transfer
replicas convey how life, daily routines, economy, and beliefs looked around 4000 years ago.
the approach compares our life today with life 4000 years ago to gain a sense of differing and sometimes similar ways of living. history is questioned to gain answers relevant to life now and in the future.
topics and questions are to be developed collaboratively in the next stage, based on the existing detailed scientific research.

examples:
fishing hook – then and now: how was fishing done 4000 years ago? what role did fish play in the diet? which species existed? why was fish caught? for play or necessity? how was it prepared?
grain – then and now: what seeds will be used in the future? through a small concrete object, the history of an entire world is told: sedentism, nutrition, culture – yesterday, today, tomorrow.
industrial mill vs. hand mill: how does a hand mill work? which grains were milled and how? how were they stored? what does cultivation and processing look like today and in the future?
lakehouse and pile dwelling: how did a pile dwelling look 4000 years ago? how will life and living on water look in the future? (hands-on experimental archaeology on the lake property is part of the program.) how was it built? what does future-oriented architecture look like today?

digital knowledge transfer
existing apps and websites will be used and content expanded (pfahlbauten.at, live cam on pyramidenkogel, etc.). the balloon above the archaeological site is equipped with a live camera linked to knowledge transfer, apps, and websites.

display cases with replicas
about 20 replicas are displayed in glass cases integrated into the panels for knowledge transfer. they are visible from the bathing area. the glass cubes are lockable and removable, filled from above. their angled position allows rainwater to run off.

modular system
the concept allows for modular expansion: the base jetty element can be extended depending on need and budget, enabling all proposed modules of the thematic chain “pile dwellings at lake keutschach” to be realized in stages and connected to this backbone. modules 7–10 (jetty arenas and lake stage) can be quickly implemented. some modules, like the experimental archaeology on the lake property, are offered as optional experiences activated by project groups. other modules, such as “living on the water,” require both project groups for construction (reconstructing pile dwellings as an experimental archaeology project and sustainable architecture in collaboration with fh and university institutes) and an operator concept due to commercial potential.