The starting point of the seminar is the observation that climatic and societal changes, together with increasing densification, fundamentally challenge conventional understandings of urban open space. While open spaces have traditionally been conceived as horizontal, unbuilt areas between buildings, the built environment demonstrates an increasing hybridization of architecture and open space. This development calls for an expanded, three-dimensional understanding of space that conceives and designs open spaces not only horizontally, but also in the vertical dimension.

The seminar engages with the spatial phenomenon of verticality and examines vertical open spaces as an independent open space typology. Central to the seminar is the question of how these spaces can be conceptually, theoretically, and graphically captured, and which specific characteristics they exhibit. Vertical open spaces are understood as layered exterior spaces with at least two levels, characterized by their three-dimensional organization and their position between interior and exterior space.

A key focus lies on the discussion of the concept of open space and its definition at the intersection of architecture and landscape architecture. Different conceptual interpretations are discussed and critically examined. Open space is understood as exterior space that is only partially protected from weather influences and is defined by its spatial, climatic, and atmospheric openness.

Through selected case studies, vertical open spaces are analyzed with regard to their spatial organization, use, and climatic effects. Methods such as sectional drawing analyses, diagrammatic representations, as well as qualitative and semi-quantitative evaluations are employed to identify characteristic spatial typologies and structural relationships.

Another focus of the seminar lies on the historical development of vertical open spaces. The seminar investigates when and under which climatic, social, and spatial conditions such spaces emerged and which motivations underpinned their formation. In particular, historical urban systems can be read as climatically permeable, porous, and three-dimensional open space systems in which interior and exterior spaces overlap.

In this way, the seminar opens up new perspectives on space, the city, and architecture. By deliberately extending open spaces into the vertical dimension, an expanded understanding of space is conveyed that questions the separation between architecture and landscape architecture, as well as between interior and exterior space, and describes hybrid spatial forms.

Participants gain insights into theoretical foundations, historical contexts, and methodological approaches to the analysis of vertical open spaces. Through lectures, discussions, and collective reflection, key concepts, definitions, and spatial frameworks are developed. The aim of the seminar is to foster a deeper understanding of verticality and three-dimensional open space systems and to reflect on their significance for a future-oriented, climate-resilient city.

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The seminar was conducted by the lecturer Dr. Isabel Zintl.