4.4 Draft design for “Klima*wandel*insel” – modular seating islands for the outdoor spaces of Vienna's municipal housing complexes

The Klima*wandel*insel project aims to design modular seating islands integrating different target groups for flexible use in the outdoor spaces of Vienna's municipal housing complexes. The objective here is to enhance amenity value, promote cross-generational interaction within the community, enliven the neighbourhood and help adapt to climate change – e.g. by improving the urban microclimate and reducing the urban heat island effect. As a first step, the WieNeu+ "Grätzlförderung" scheme provided funding support for a pilot draft design, and a prototype is to be rolled out within the WieNeu+ Grätzl 20+2 programme area.

Takeaways & challenges

• Due to the size of the Wiener Wohnen portfolio, the design of individual one-off solutions often represents a particular challenge. There are existing framework contracts and standard items of furniture, both of which need to be factored into the planning process.
• The initial investment costs of innovative projects are an obstacle, but usually one that can be overcome with the aid of one-off grants and subsidies. Nevertheless, the longer-term costs of repair, maintenance, care, etc. remain.

This project was supported with funding from the "Grätzlförderung" scheme.