CityTransferCultureSystemsSince 2019

We revitalise town centres and bring research into public space.

ato develops art-based concepts for municipalities, universities, economic development agencies and companies.

From the first idea to delivery, interdisciplinary and on equal footing.

Fields

What we work on.

We revive town centres and activate vacant spaces. Concepts and participation processes that municipalities and property owners can put into practice directly.

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Transfer

We translate research into practice. Living lab design and science communication for universities and transfer offices.

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Culture

Event and experience formats with strategic impact.

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Systems

We build the digital tools our concepts rely on. Bespoke portals and applications for municipalities and organisations, with digital sovereignty from the outset.

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Approach

Outcome over output.

We do not measure our work by how much we produce, but by whether something demonstrably improves on the ground: footfall, use, quality of stay, visibility and follow-up projects.

Flora Momentum · neighbourhood activation

Approach

Artistic Intelligence.

Artistic expertise as a thinking resource in its own right within processes of change, especially in times of digitalisation and AI. We developed how this works methodically with the KIT, among others, as the ARTCOM transfer method.

Talk “Artistic Intelligence” · Norina Quinte, InnovationFestival 2025

ARTCOM · transfer method with KIT

A toolkit of methods for interdisciplinary infrastructure development.

At its heart is the six-stage model, which guides groups from initial exploration to a viable usage concept, with formats such as Fotospaziergang, Green Dealer and Inseln des Gelingens. Science, art, business and society work here as equals.

Methods & formats at artcom.hub-bau.kit.edu

ARTCOM workshop at KIT: participant working with handwritten cards at a table — ARTCOM @ KIT · transfer format in practice

ARTCOM formats: diagram of methods around the ARTCOM transfer method — Formats & building blocks of the method.

The ARTCOM six-stage model as an illustrated process model from stage 1 to 6 — The six-stage model, from exploration to delivery.

ARTCOM in practice · Transfercampus HKA Karlsruhe

From method to a viable usage concept.

For Hochschule Karlsruhe we developed the Transfercampus out of the ARTCOM process, from the participation phase to the architectural design.

3D design of the Transfercampus at Hochschule Karlsruhe, view of the pavilion on the site — 3D design · Transfercampus HKA Karlsruhe

View of the Transfercampus design, Hochschule Karlsruhe

Another view of the Transfercampus design, Hochschule Karlsruhe

„The ato team brings fresh momentum to our projects in sustainable infrastructure and prevention in construction through its know-how and creative ideas. Their artistic perspective is enriching, and I particularly value their commitment, their reliability and the innovative impulses they bring.“

Christina Becker · Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), Innovation HUB

Services

Services by field.

Concrete services, grouped by field. Selectable on their own and combined to suit each project.

I
Site and neighbourhood activation ConceptsParticipationFunding-eligible 
Concepts and participation processes for town centres and neighbourhoods, from analysis through to delivery. Eligible for funding under municipal and urban development programmes.
II
Exhibition formats for activating vacant spaces ExhibitionVacancyFunding-eligible 
Individual concepts and exhibition formats for activating vacant spaces, which municipalities and property owners can commission directly. Examples: in 2024 the activation of a vacant shop unit in the Karlsruhe pedestrian zone, in 2025 a usage concept for a listed building in Rheinstetten.
III
Strategy and concept development WorkshopsSparringRoadmaps 
Workshops and sparring formats for municipalities and organisations, with roadmaps and a basis for decisions on complex undertakings.

I
Living lab design and knowledge transfer Living labTransferResearch 
Transfer formats and living labs for universities and research institutions that translate research into societal application. Examples: ARTCOM, the transfer method with KIT, and the Transfercampus at Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences.
II
Keynotes and impulses Artistic IntelligenceFuture skillsSustainability 
Talks and dialogue formats for conferences and symposia as well as internal development processes. Focus areas: Artificial Intelligence, Artistic Intelligence, future skills and sustainability.
III
Sustainability strategy SustainabilityCriteriaWorkshops 
Formats and methods for prioritising sustainability criteria. From an extensive catalogue, organisations develop their most important criteria as guiding principles for construction projects and development.

I
Event formats ConferenceWorkshopDialogue 
Conferences, workshops and dialogue events with bespoke direction.
II
Team and culture development WorkshopsTeam developmentValues 
Workshops for team development and the cultural and values-based direction of organisations.
III
Publications and discourse formats EditorialSymposiaDiscourse 
Conception and editing of publications and symposia for demanding subjects and public discourse.

I
Portals & applications PortalsWeb appsParticipation 
Participation portals and bespoke web apps for municipalities, universities, economic development agencies and organisations. We build the digital tools that carry our concepts and participation processes into practice.
II
Dashboards & process digitalisation DashboardsData modelsAutomation 
Public and internal dashboards make processes visible and steerable, from data modelling to the automation of recurring tasks. That way impact can be demonstrated rather than merely claimed.
III
AI applications with judgement AI applicationsEU AI ActSovereignty 
Concrete AI applications that ease research and analysis and take over routine tasks. Data protection, the EU AI Act, hosting in Europe and open standards are part of the baseline for us, not an extra.

Funding expertise

We factor the funding in from the start.

We have worked in funded projects for years and know the funding landscape from our own practice: WERKstattPALAST was funded by BMBF (now BMFTR) and the State of Baden-Württemberg, Flora Momentum came about within the federal programme „Zukunftsfähige Innenstädte“, ARTCOM is a BMBF (now BMFTR) research project commissioned by the KIT. For your plans we identify suitable programmes and support you with the application, reporting and delivery.

Work

From competition wins to award-winning publications.

A selection across all fields. We are happy to discuss which projects fit your plans directly in a conversation.

City

2025→

Flora Momentum, competition win

Art installation at Stephanplatz · competition win 2025.

Transfer

2024–2026→

ARTCOM · KIT / BMBF

A transfer method for science and industry · academically supported.

Values

2021–2025→

Haus Marlene Poelzig · Berlin

Co-editorship of the publication · launch at Kino Babylon · Architectural Book Award 2025.

Culture

2025→

Orange Days

Artistic intervention for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

View all projects→

WERKstattPALAST · Karlsruhe Rhine harbour · 2022

Ten weeks at the Rhine harbour, purpose-built.

What we put on entirely by ourselves shows best what we deliver for clients. The WERKstattPALAST was a ten-week programme where art, science and the city met, from the purpose-built architecture to a curated programme of salons, performances, workshops and dialogues. Conceived, built and run by ato, co-organised with the KIT Innovation Hub and funded by BMBF (now BMFTR) and the State of Baden-Württemberg.

95 Events

5.500+ Visitors

30+ Experts

70+ Interviews

Aerial view of the WERKstattPALAST at the Karlsruhe Rhine harbour at night — Aerial view · Karlsruhe Rhine harbour, summer 2022

Ethos

Art is our standpoint, not our stage.

Our methods come from the art and research world: first allow ambiguity, then sharpen with precision. What comes out in the end is individual strategy, concept, delivery and a final report.

Active since: 2019 · Karlsruhe
Team: Norina Quinte, Adam Gawel · network of over 100 creative professionals
Funding logic: Urban development funding · BAFA advisory funding · BMBF (now BMFTR)
Sectors: City · research · NGO · SMEs
Languages: German · English

Partners & supporters

Contact

A personal conversation clarifies more than any brochure.

Send us two sentences about your enquiry. Within 48 hours you will receive an assessment of whether and how we can help, or which partners from our network are best suited.

info@ato.vision→

Direct

Norina Quinte

Founder & Curator

quinte@ato.vision

Adam Gawel

Founder · Strategy & Tech

gawel@ato.vision

Hannah Klein

Founder & Finance

klein@ato.vision