banal potential

For 48 hours non-stop in the fall of 2024, banale potenziale (banal potentials) addressed questions of so-called public space, particularly the street. Alternative uses were explored, new perspectives opened, and hidden potentials revealed. banale potenziale – Laboratory for Research on the Street at the HDA – House of Architecture builds on and continues the explorations of banale potenziale. As an exhibition, meeting place, and discourse space, it illuminates the history of banalities, presents the results of the 48 hours, and also features new contributions.

In the city, the private and public dynamically intertwine. With the temporary interventions of banale potenziale (banal potentials) in the fall of 2024, the Annenviertel became a place of encounter, exchange, work, and shared experience for 48 hours. Alternative uses were explored, new perspectives opened, and hidden potentials revealed. The exhibition "banale potenziale – Laboratory for Researching the Street" provides insight into the history of the "banale," presents the results of the 48-hour exhibition, and also features new contributions. As a large-scale installation, it establishes a field of experimentation that continues the explorations of "banale potenziale." It blurs the boundaries between exhibition space and street, becoming more than just an exhibition, a meeting place and space for discourse. Students, architecture graduates, and experts will explore the topic in greater depth. Lectures, discussions, and workshops, which culminate in the Graz district festival "Lendwirbel," will make the topic accessible to a broad audience.

The banale potenziale is part of "Banale," an exhibition series organized by architecture students at Graz University of Technology since 1993. It emerged from the lively and critical discussion culture of the architectural drawing rooms and was originally conceived as a showcase of work by and for students. In recent years, it has developed into an interdisciplinary exhibition series that presents student projects, reflects on current architectural themes, and addresses social challenges.

The exhibition "banale Potenziale – Laboratory for Researching the Street" features contributions from Kollektiv Raumstation, Radio Helsinki, Zara Pfeifer, Das letzte Ma(h)l, Natalia Vasadze, Hannah Wohofsky, Jonah Burgsteiner, Klara Schmidt, Sebastian Stubenrauch, Ajna Babahmetovic, Adna Babahmetovic, Valentin Böhm, Cedric Zellweger, spaxMama, Naomi Baumann, Robin Klengel, and Leonhard Müllner/Total Refusal

Opening: April 10, 2025, 7 p.m.