Workshop 3: New living in old districts
Tuesday, 26 September 2006, 14.00-18.30
Urania, Dachsaal, 1010 Vienna


The workshop theme
In Vienna, as in many historically grown cities, most of the problems are concentrated in those districts which are characterised by a high need for modernisation: A high share of low-income households, but also vacant retail and business spaces are dominant attributes. The Viennese concept of socially acceptable "smooth urban renewal" and the institutionalisation of "area renewal offices" are often referred to as international best practice models. Yet, the aims of high-quality and still affordable living in old districts, of conserving local identities, grading up public space and revitalising business, and - last not least - actively involving the inhabitants call for innovative solutions.

Regarding to this main theme the following research projects were presented:

  • Exchange Paris - Vienna. Urban renewal and participation on district level
  • making it 2 - The language of the street
  • Pilot project Kaiserstraße (in the context of the "Poseidon" project)
  • A guest lecture gives an insigth into recent urban development in Hamburg compared to the Viennese situation.

The Vienna Housing Research Days
Vienna has not only a long tradition of social housing and of successful models to adapt living space to contemporary requirements; the City of Vienna is also proud of its comprehensive research programme to continuously evaluate and redevelop its housing and urban renewal policy.

The workshop "New living in old districts" represents the third workshop in a new series of events: The "Vienna Housing Research Days" provide an experts' platform for the presentation and discussion of recent research projects, realised in the framework of the Vienna Housing Research Programme. Thus, a further step towards an intensified dialogue and networking among the local and regional scientific community will be taken.

Programme
Tuesday, 26 September 2006

14.00 Chair and introduction
Wolfgang Förster, City of Vienna, MA 50, Department for Housing Research and International Relations

14.05 Re-vitalisation of urban quarters in Vienna - two case studies
making it 2 - The language of the street
Mark Gilbert, Hans Hinterholzer & Wolfgang Niederwieser, ArchitekturRaum 5, Area Renewal Office Wieden/Margareten

Pilot project Kaiserstraße
Franz Denk & Angela Eder, Verein Wolke 7

15.30 Coffee break

16.00 Urban renewal in Vienna in international comparison
The renewal of urban renewal in Hamburg
Dirk Schubert, University of Technology Hamburg-Harburg

Exchange Paris - Vienna. Urban renewal and participation on district level
Heidrun Feigelfeld, SRZ Stadt- und Regionalforschung

17.30 Informal "Networking" & Buffet