Interdisciplinary architecture and urban design studio that connects technology, contemporary culture and the environment.  Co-let by Mark Balzar and Zeynep Aksöz Balzar, the practice bridges research and real-world application, combining academic insight with industry collaboration to develop innovative spatial solutions. Together, they create forward thinking architectural concepts that integrate creativity, technology, and sustainability to shape distinctive environments for a changing world.

OpenFields

The MQ spreads over 90,000 m2 in central Vienna and houses 60 cultural institutions. It is one of the largest districts for contemporary art and culture in the world. MQ has no boundaries: the historical architecture comes together with contemporary design. It is a place of encounter with no entrance nor closing time. With the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2030, three core pillars have been implemented: urban greening initiatives, resource-efficient management and an artistic program focused on the environment and sustainability.

Summerstage is located in the central plaza of Vienna's MQ, an unbeatable artistic and cultural complex. It was built in the eighteenth century and was originally designed to house the Imperial Stables by the Austrian architect Fischer von Eerlach. Since then, it has been expanded with modern additions to serve as the platform for contemporary art.

In this architectural context an exclusive urban island is born, designed to transform a transit area into a comfortable site. It is a dynamic stage conceived to enhance the co-existence of different activities and participants, promoting sharing activities and redefining the conventional urbanism. The composition has three zones: an urban garden where fruits and vegetables thrive; a “meadow” with tall grass providing a touch of nature within the dense urban environment and a small stage that fosters intimate dialogues and spontaneous encounters.

MQ Summertage represents a particular way to face the climate change in urban areas and it does so superbly. It has been designed with the goal of achieving durability and adaptability, combining the light stainless steel framework with wooden elements. They successfully achieve a long-lasting positive impact, with limited resources, with a modular design and thorough material selection.