Designed by Siegfried Frank and Michael Rieper, Cafe Aiola is considered one of Graz's great urban spaces. The cafe is a transparent space, surrounded by a beautiful terrace. It was created using just a few elements: a simple flat roof rests on steel uprights and beautiful high glass walls separate the bar from the service area.

Reiner Schmid, architect of "Dom im Berg," designed the speediest means to reach the top of the Castle Mountain (Schlossberg), the glass-enclosed elevator known as the "lift im Berg." To construct the lift, which has a rise of 77 meters, 5,000 cubic meters of material were removed from the mountain.

The Murinsel, or the Island in the Mur, is actually not an island at all, but an artificial floating platform in the middle of the Mur river. This landmark was designed by New York artist Vito Acconci on the occasion of Graz becoming the 2003 European Capital of Culture. The building in the form of a giant seashell measures 50m in length by 20m in width. Two footbridges connect it with the opposite banks of the Mur. The center of the platform forms an amphitheater. Below a twisted round dome are a café and a playground.

Constructed in 1992 by Günther Domenig and Hermann Eisenköck, the Mursteg Footbridge is a strikingly modern steel suspension bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. It connects the two shores of the Mur River, showing a notable elevation difference. The bridge is a blend of innovative engineering and aesthetic design.

Designed by Peter Cook and Colin Fournier, the Kunsthaus (art museum) is a unique expression of art in architectural form, right in the heart of the city's historic center. The façade of the Kunsthaus museum is a blend of architecture and new media: it consists of approximately one thousand acrylic panels, illuminated by 40 Watt fluorescent rings, the brightness of which can be controlled by a central computer. The interior of the building is very modern and functional.

The Sporthaus, a sports department of Kastner & Öhler Shopping center, is a brand new part of the building facing the Mur River. This new addition was designed by architects Michael Szyskowitz and Carla Kowalski. A blend of beautiful glass roofs and steel bridges creates a heterogeneous structure. The Sporthaus is located just across the river from the Kunsthaus. Taken together, these two structures represent a fresh architectural start for Graz.

Constructed between 1786 and 1820, parts of Jakominiplatz were originally sold for housing. Today, the character of the square has changed. Jakominiplatz was redesigned in 1996 by architects Jörg and Ingrid Mayer. The square is now illuminated with hundreds of lights, giving the space a "big city" feel.

Designed and constructed by Graz architect Hartmut Skerbisch, the Light Sword is one of the most remarkable and recognizable landmarks of Graz. Even though the Light Sword is not a building but a sculptural installation, it is still considered to be an important example of new fusion architecture in Graz. The Light Sword is situated next to the Opera House. It was constructed in 1992 for Autumn Festival. Inspired by the Statue of Liberty in New York, Hertmut Skerbisch designed its prototype, which is the same height as the real model.