Iconic building as a real-life demo site for REGEN-01

Organisation

Kunsthaus Graz · Universalmuseum Joanneum

Museum of contemporary art · Graz, Austria

https://www.museum-joanneum.at/kunsthaus-graz

• Landmark building by Peter Cook & Colin Fournier, opened 2003 (European Capital of Culture)

• "Friendly Alien": biomorphic blob architecture, 1,066 translucent acrylic-glass panels

• BIX media façade by realities:united — 900 m², 930 controllable light rings

• Located on the River Mur, adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage historic centre of Graz; connected to the protected "Eisernes Haus" (1847)

The demonstration case

• Façade retrofit of an icon: energy efficiency, weather resistance, communication

• Envelope system technically outdated: ageing waterproofing membrane, insufficient thermal regulation, high maintenance effort (heavy panels up to ~300 kg, work-platform operations), external fire-protection system

• Neon lighting behind the panels can no longer be placed on the EU market — technology transition is mandatory

• Museum-climate requirements: continuous controlled interior conditions for contemporary art

• 2026 public innovation challenge (IÖB Innovationsplattform) on façade and roof-skin solutions completed; winners include bio-based façade concepts, media-skin and flexible roof-waterproofing solutions

• Constraint set ideal for research: geometry and outer appearance must be preserved; weight limit ~300 kg per panel; ≥ 20-year lifetime; maintenance intervals ≥ 3–5 years

Expertise / what we offer

• Demonstration site: real building, real climate data, real regulatory constraints (heritage context, public procurement, fire safety)

• Material testing environment: bio-based, recycled and translucent façade systems under Central-European weathering and museum climate conditions

• Cultural-sector expertise: curatorial practice, artistic programming of the media façade, participatory formats with urban publics

• Dissemination platform: internationally known institution — high visibility for project results

• Experienced public partner: completed innovation-oriented market exploration with technical documentation ready to share

What we are looking for

• REGEN-01 consortia needing a cultural / heritage-context demonstration building in the continental climate zone

• Partners developing bio-based, circular and low-maintenance façade solutions (incl. integrated media capability) for validation under real conditions

• Research institutions and universities for testing façade and material solutions

• Research partners for LCA, cost and regulatory barrier analysis (heritage, public procurement, fire safety)

• Municipal and civil-society partners for participatory demonstration activities

Fit with HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-01