Mag. arch. Dr. techn. Daniel Podmirseg

Born on October 20, 1976, in Merano, Italy, Daniel can be reached at podmirseg@verticalfarminstitute.com. Detailed information about his projects is available at www.verticalfarminstitute.com and www.podmirseg.com. His office is located at Vertical Farm Institute GmbH, Döblergasse 2/17, 1070 Vienna.

ORCID-Number

0000-0003-3863-8061

In a nutshell

Daniel Podmirseg is architect, scientist, and educator whose work redefines the intersection of urban design, agriculture, and energy design. As the founder and leader of the vertical farm institute, he has built a prolific career in architectural design and teaching while championing solutions that combine the built environment with environmental and social needs. His vision of making food production an integral part of urban living drives his mission to create cities that are resilient and thriving for future generations.

Personal Vision

With over a decade of expertise in architecture and scientific research, Daniel envisions a future where food production seamlessly integrates into urban life. By blending aesthetics, energy efficiency, and building performance, he focuses on closing material and energy loops to unlock the transformative potential of urban food production. His innovative approach views vertical farms as structural elements within urban systems, adhering to the principles of the circular economy.

Education

Daniel earned his doctorate in technical sciences with distinction from Graz University of Technology in 2015. His dissertation, titled "Up! Contribution of Vertical Farms to Increase the Overall Energy Efficiency of Cities", examined the energy requirements for food production within architectural typologies and was published by Cuvillier in 2016. His academic journey also includes a diploma in architecture from the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, awarded in 2008. His diploma project, "SPUROPE 2050: A Vertical Farm for London in 2050," explored the integration of vertical farming into urban landscapes to address food security and public space transformation.

Professional Roles and Initiatives

Daniel is the founder and head of the vertical farm institute, established in 2016 to advance research and innovation in vertical farming, its positive externalities and climate change. Under his leadership, the institute has spearheaded initiatives like cropify, Skyberries Conference and Skyberries Academy, which aim to foster knowledge-sharing and develop practical solutions for integrating agriculture into cities.

In academia, Daniel has taught at leading institutions such as the University of Applied Arts Vienna, Graz University of Technology, and Technische Universität Berlin. His seminars and workshops address topics such as energy-efficient architecture, urban development, and the creation of new building typologies.

Alongside his academic and research pursuits, Daniel brings extensive architectural experience, having worked as freelance architect for renowned firms such as Coop Himmelb(l)au, JWA Architects, and BOA-Architecture. A member of the Austrian Chamber of Architects since 2009, he has contributed to innovative projects that emphasize environmental responsibility and urban efficiency.

Selected Achievements

Daniel’s contributions have been widely recognized. In 2020, he was nominated for Austrian of the Year for his work in climate initiatives. He won the i4X Startup Moonshot Competition in 2018 and received first prize for a research proposal on urban transformation funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung in 2017. His doctoral paper was honored as the Best Paper at the International Symposium on High Density and Living Comfort in Graz in 2013, highlighting his ability to bridge architecture, science, and sustainability.

Visionary Projects

Daniel’s portfolio demonstrates his commitment to rethinking urban design. His diploma project, SPUROPE 2050, envisioned a vertical farm for London, integrating food production into urban landscapes to address food security while redefining public spaces. Building on this foundation, he later conducted a feasibility study for a new building typology in Berlin in 2024. This study proposed an innovative 40,000 m² urban development that seamlessly incorporated vertical farming into its functions and space programming, showcasing his capacity to merge agricultural systems with architectural ingenuity. This groundbreaking project set a benchmark for forward-thinking urban design, illustrating his vision for urban environments for future generations.