dérive – Society for Urban Research is an multimedial, interdisciplinary and independent network of artists, researchers and writers focusing on urban research. dérive juxtaposes sociology, architecture, art, politics, geography, urban planning, philosophy and economy - always dealing with their impact on urban society. Based in vienna dérive publishes an international quarterly magazine, produces a monthly radio show and organizes the annual festival URBANIZE! International Festival for Urban Explorations.

Large parts of the industrials areas, ports or railway sites lost their functions and orphaned. During the last years many of them disappeared and became residential areas, business parks and the like. But there are still numerous sites that await a new function. The need for cheap, extraordinary space for people nowadays called „creative class“ and the rising importance of the „creative industries“ increased the attention for those old industrial sites.