From Principles to Practice DIGITAL

Gentle urban renewal in ViennaVienna, Austria 2004-present Launched in the early 2000s, the programme offers financial sub- sidies for renovating buildings in central districts, improving living conditions while maintaining the neighbourhood’s historic character. Tenant participation is central, ensuring their needs are met and rent increases are kept minimal. This approach has become a model for other cities seeking to balance urban renewal with social stability. Vienna’s gentle urban renewal programme is designed to ensure the preservation of older apartment buildings while avoiding the gentrification and displacement that often accompany urban renewal projects. The programme subsidizes rehabilitation efforts of pre-1950s apartment buildings, ensuring that the renovations are affordable for tenants while maintaining the architectural and cultural heritage of the city. The initiative is built on the principle of gradual and respectful development, focusing on maintaining the social fabric of neighbourhoods. A key aspect of the programme is its emphasis on small-scale block renewal. This approach avoids the large-scale demolition of existing buildings, instead investing in the renovation of specific blocks. This allows for the modernization of infrastructure and improvements in living conditions while minimizing disruptions to tenants’ lives. The focus is on preserving affordable housing stock in central, well-connected areas and protecting low- and middle-in- come residents from being pushed out due to increasing rent. In addition to improving physical structures, the programme pro- motes active community participation. Residents are encouraged to take part in the planning and decision-making processes through workshops and consultations, ensuring that their needs and con- cerns are heard and incorporated into the designs. This participatory approach helps facilitate a sense of ownership and pride in the renewal efforts, making them more likely to succeed in the long term. To date, Vienna’s gentle urban renewal has rehabilitated more than 10,000 residential units across the city, with a focus on districts that are undergoing natural processes of urban change. By 2023, the initiative had led to a substantial reduction in tenant displace- ment, providing affordable living options in areas traditionally at risk of gentrification.Vienna’s gentle urban renewal programme revitalizes older apartment buildings, preserving affordability and preventing tenant displacement. 33 Fotostudio Huger Presented by the Government of AustriaHIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DBQS GOVERNANCE FUNCTIONALITY ECONOMY DIVERSITY SENSE OF PLACE