Vienna and Ljubljana focus on sustainable real estate management

How can cities develop their real estate stock in a sustainable way while also securing affordable housing? This question was the focus of a two-day expert exchange between representatives of the City of Vienna's Department for Real Estate Management and colleagues from the City of Ljubljana on 23 and 24 October 2025 in Ljubljana. The experts from both cities discussed the current challenges and best practices in urban real estate management, as well as prospects for future cooperation.

The visit, funded by the City-to-City Exchange of the European Urban Initiative (EUI), offered insights into Ljubljana's sustainable urban development. The first day featured expert lectures on sustainable mobility and the revitalisation of public spaces, as well as a tour of the Ljubljana Public Transport (LPP) depot. Following its planned relocation to Stanežiče in the coming years, the site will offer around 50,000 square metres of buildable space. Around 90 per cent of this will be designed as Remiza Park which will become the third largest park in Ljubljana. The remaining area will be used for municipal housing.

There are also plans to build a new district in Stanežiče with around 3,000 municipal flats, social and communal infrastructure and a connection to the new technology and development centre.

A comparison of strategies and structures

The second day was dedicated to an expert exchange on the City of Vienna's real estate strategy. The delegation from Vienna presented the administrative structure, key figures and the central property register, which serves as the basis for strategic land management. The City of Ljubljana's real estate management department informed their colleagues from Vienna about the city's real estate portfolio, the ownership structure between the city and the state as well as sales strategies and how the generated funds are used. They also discussed the financing of the public housing fund, ownership models in municipal housing and the temporary use of municipal premises for cultural and social purposes.

Shared perspectives

Finally, the delegation from Vienna met with the City of Ljubljana's Department for Environmental Protection which presented projects such as allotment gardens rentals, eight school gardens and the EU-funded urban educational farm Rakova Jelša. Both cities emphasised the importance of European knowledge transfer in the areas of portfolio management, sustainable urban development and land use. The visit highlighted the shared goal of Vienna and Ljubljana to strengthen the foundations for a liveable and sustainable urban future through cooperation and exchange of experience.