Transforming Spaces: Rethinking Urban Parking Lots for a Sustainable Future

Abstract

Urban and peri-urban parking lots are underutilized spaces with significant potential for sustainable transformation. Traditionally serving as basic vehicle storage, these sealed surfaces exacerbate climate change as urban heat islands and miss opportunities to support multifunctional uses. With shifting mobility paradigms, increasing demand for renewable energy, and growing societal needs for leisure and nature, these spaces must be reimagined. This study, conducted through an interdisciplinary course at TU Wien, explored the trans-formation of parking lots into sustainable urban assets. Using a medium-sized Austrian city as a case study, the project aimed to integrate ecological, social, and energy goals, demonstrating the necessity of innovative architectural and spatial planning.