It examines current trends such as the integration of community spaces, wellness features, technological innovation, and service-driven concepts, highlighting how these develop-ments are influencing the evolution of spatial design in response to changing user ex-pectations.

A central focus will be on how the needs and preferences of various user groups—rang-ing from Gen Z to seniors—have shifted as a result of broader societal changes. In par-ticular, new work practices and the impact of the pandemic have redefined what people look for in terms of flexibility, community, privacy, and well-being within their living envi-ronments.

By showcasing examples from a diverse range of contemporary accommodation types, the presentation demonstrates how each responds differently to these shared needs through design and function. But with all these varied approaches, are the guest needs truly different or do the fundamentals—such as the desire to connect, experience, and feel well—ultimately remain the same across all segments? The lecture invites you to consider how thoughtful, adaptive design can create environments that are not only functional, but also genuinely meaningful and memorable for people in today’s dynamic landscape.

Wann: Donnerstag, 08.05.25, 12:30-13:30 Uhr
Wer: Carmen Ivona Dumitrescu in der Moderation von Christoph H. Wecht
Wo: MS Teams
 

Zur Teilnahme

CV Carmen Ivona Dumitrescu

Carmen Dumitrescu, born in 1983 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, is a Vienna-based architect with over 15 years of international experience spanning Austria, Romania, Spain, and Switzerland. She holds a Dipl.-Ing. and MSc. in Architecture (2009) and an Executive MBA from the University of St. Gallen (2020). Since 2018, she has been a member of the Chamber of Architects and Chartered Engineering Consultants Vienna (Zivilitechnikerin).

After completing her studies, Carmen worked as a project architect in several studios before joining Archisphere in Vienna in 2011, where she specialized in hospitality projects and private residences. Rising from project architect to managing partner, she played a key role in shaping the studio’s portfolio until founding SOP Architecture in 2022. SOP

(Sense Of Place) Architecture is an interdisciplinary practice focused on creating mean-ingful spaces—whether hotels, co-living projects, or student housing—that foster a strong sense of connection to their surroundings.

Carmen is also an original partner of the “Future of Living” think tank, led by the Future of Hospitality Institute, which is now in its second phase. This global research initiative in-vestigates the rapidly evolving serviced living sector, with a focus on user experience, digitalization, architectural planning, and operational sustainability. She regularly leads workshops and lectures on topics such as agile architecture and hospitality design, in-cluding the recent “Agile Architecture: How Feedback Loops and User Insight Impact Hospitality Design” at Architekturgespräche München.