RenovationPlus - Renovation for accessible and age-friendly communal housing in Vienna

Starting from a list of communal housing developments due for full structural renovation („Sockelsanierung“) in Vienna , the building complex Mundygasse 1, in the 10th district was chosen. It should serve as a case study for the purpose of this investigation (162 fl ats, 32 percent over 60 years-old tenants).

Our research questions:

• How can aspects of acccessibility and age-friendly design be better incorporated into the renovation process of Wiener Wohnen?
• What is the potential for improvement in the course of a renovation and at reasonable cost?
• How can competences and knowledge from various community agencies contribute towards a better renovation process?

We approached these questions in four steps:

1. Walk-through and audit of the building and the immediate environment as a basis for evaluation of the built environment.
2. Context research, discussions and roundtable conversations with experts from various departments of the city of Vienna.
3. Interviews with tenants.
4. One Universal Design workshop with participants from various departments of the city of Vienna.

Research and context analysis

Briefly summarized the main aspects in this context are: security, well-functioning communication, direct exchange of information, accessibility, integration into the development of the district, and short reaction times when real or imagined problems occur. City agencies working in the community approach these topics as concerns for the built environment and for social aspects of housing and neighbourhood.

Safety is a particular issue for senior citizens, as well as the fear of change.

Community organisations at district level communicate directly and personally with residents and with each other, an efficient way to find quick and pragmatic solutions. Sadly, the good news of well-functioning community services seldom get reported to the public.

Mundygasse 1 is located in a low traffic zone, the building complex is easily reached by car from major roads and has good connections to public transport. Some of the walkways are in need of renovation. Tenants tend to avoid the neighbourhood park (Mundypark). They prefer the playground in the courtyard, though during the time of observation this also was little used. When asked, tenants named parks and playgrounds further afield, such as Laaerberg. Helmut-Zilk-Park is close, but still quite new, and the walk to get there is not particularly attractive.