Considering the climate and resource crisis, spatial planning must focus more than ever on existing buildings. Temporary use is an effective way of providing important impetus in urban areas that are struggling with vacancies.

The central area of Hernals in Vienna is in a state of transformation, and the future construction of the U5 subway line will change the area. In addition to the subway construction, the WienNeuPlus urban renewal programme will be implemented starting mid-2025, with a strong focus on refurbishing existing buildings in Hernals. In the area, Pia Knappitsch from Wiener Geschäftsquartiere, opens an external URL in a new window ("Vienna Business Districts") and Lena Rücker from the city of Vienna, opens an external URL in a new window gave us insights into their work and questions about vacancies in ground floor zones and future developments. The "Kultur Cafe Max" and "Atelierhaus" in Mariengasse 1, which is run by the Shizzle association, opens an external URL in a new window, shows how temporary use is realised and lived. The association is primarily committed to promoting art and culture in Hernals and also organises various forms of temporary use in the surrounding area.

Thanks to Pia Knappitsch, Lena Rücker and Matthias Schinerl for the exciting insights. The seminar will be led by Elias Grinzinger (Research Unit Regional Plannung and Regional Development), Mara Haas (Future Lab, opens an external URL in a new window), Jonathan Fakta (Research Unit Transportation System Planning) and Uli Fries (Kreative Räume Wien, opens an external URL in a new window).

The students' task is to map and survey the vacant properties in the centre of Hernals. From the surveys, key objects are to be identified which should later lead to a possible activation of the vacancies.