3. Innerfavoriten

3.1 Portrait of a neighbourhood

The Innerfavoriten programme area is defined by the neighbourhood extending between Landgutgasse and Inzersdorfer Strasse as well as between Triester Strasse and Laxenburger Strasse. It is inhabited by around 35,000 persons.

This neighbourhood is very densely built up, with a large part of the structures dating from the Gründerzeit period and, in many cases, requiring refurbishment. Correspondingly, the area’s dwellings, too, are in urgent need of renovation overall. The streets, which form a grid pattern, are devoid of trees, while the parks are used intensively by the residents as extensions of their living rooms. In the summer months, Innerfavoriten becomes a massive urban heat island. The “Supergrätzl” pilot project presents particularly promising potentials for the further development of public space.

With WieNeu+, innovative solutions are tested in Innerfavoriten as pilot projects that will serve as examples for the entire city.

Area analysis

Analysing the programme area in question is a fundamental phase in the preparatory process for WieNeu+. Its main goal lies in gathering and evaluating comprehensive information regarding a specific area to be able to take informed decisions on upcoming projects and measures. This analysis comprises such aspects as the urban structure, social dynamics, the economic status quo, environmental factors and infrastructure conditions. The area analysis helps to identify weak points as well as potentials that can serve as the basis for developing targeted projects that contribute to a climate- and future-proof neighbourhood.

By the same token, possible synergies between the programme pillars “Buildings & energy”, “Social neighbourhood” and “Public space” are addressed as well.

The findings of the area analysis are grounded in an analysis of the status quo, define goals for the different pillars and, finally, highlight numerous opportunities and potentials for activities, e.g.:

Architecture – status quo

grid
Residential area with some forms of commercial use remaining
In urgent need of refurbishment
Potentials for extensive, innovative projects due to transformation and vacant premises
Urban heat island in the summer months

Architecture – goals

Targeted and systematic activation of existing architectural-structural potentials to foster sustainable neighbourhood development in Innerfavoriten
Socially just, resource-conserving, climate-neutral and climate change-adapted improvement of the Innerfavoriten building stock
Heat-mitigating design of buildings and open spaces attached to buildings in Innerfavoriten (the “Cool Zones” intervention for ”Grätzl 20+2”, the successor programme area, is derived from this)

Architecture – ideas for further development

Discussion of passive housing construction potentials with Municipal Department 21 (MA 21) – District Planning and Land Use and wohnfonds_wien (e.g. attic storey conversion and redensification)
Survey of counter-productive stimuli that impede climate-friendly refurbishment (which factors prevent climate-friendly refurbishment?)

Inhabitants, community life and social aspects – status quo

High population density
Large households
Many non-Austrian nationals
Average age slightly below the average for as a whole
High unemployment rate
Educational facilities for various age groups
Lack of nursing and healthcare facilities

Inhabitants, community life and social aspects – goals

Involving inhabitants in the sustainable transformation of Innerfavoriten
Creating suitable spaces for neighbourhood / community activities in Innerfavoriten

Inhabitants, community life and social aspects – ideas for further development

Planning and creating event / community spaces
Citizen participation procedure for Quellenplatz square (GB*)
Participatory idea budget (GB*)

Open spaces, public spaces – status quo

High degree of soil sealing and scarce green spaces
Marked shortage of green and open spaces – massive pressure of (over-)use
Inhabitants suffer from overheating in the summer months

Open spaces, public spaces – goals

Creating an adequate network of high-quality public green spaces (parks) in Innerfavoriten
Creating / preserving greened, shaded streets and pedestrian routes with high atmospheric quality in Innerfavoriten

Open spaces, public spaces – ideas for further development

Initiative to involve residents in caring for the “green infrastructure”
Developing a concept for public space
Temporary interventions to highlight how public space can be used in new and different ways

Mobility – status quo

Low degree of car ownership
Well connected to public transport network
Few cycleways
Many 30 km/h zones

Mobility – goals

Promoting active, future-proof mobility across target groups in Innerfavoriten
Offering good and varied public transport options in Innerfavoriten
Ensuring good and safe walking and cycling routes in Innerfavoriten (e.g. see report on the mobility of children and young people in the Triesterviertel section of the neighbourhood)

Mobility – ideas for further development

Planning the gradual implementation of the “Supergrätzl” concept

Economy – status quo

Highly diverse ground-floor zones
Many local shops – some manufacturing businesses remaining in-between
Many enterprises – many sectors
Low purchasing power

Economy – goals

Supporting entrepreneurs in developing environmentally friendly and heat-reducing measures
Revitalising local businesses in Innerfavoriten and strengthening their resilience
Creating / preserving lively, attractive ground-floor zones in Innerfavoriten

Economy – ideas for further development

Supporting the activation of vacancies, e.g. by means of interim use
Supporting local businesses, e.g. by means of new neighbourhood subsidy schemes

Outcomes

On the basis of the area analysis and in-depth thematic workshops with local players, project potentials were identified and subsequently formulated. These are consistent with the themes and goals of WieNeu+ and contribute towards a climate and future-proof 10^th municipal district Favoriten.