Community housing initiatives in Seestadt

Building & living together – In aspern Seestadt, neighbourhood and active participation are top priorities – an ideal place for housing initiatives that put community at the centre. People who value close neighbourhoods, sustainable living, and participation are in exactly the right place here.

#About

#Projects

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Community housing initiatives are associations of people who plan, design, and realise a residential project together. Future residents contribute their ideas, organise themselves as a house community, and can actively help shape things even before moving in. The result: living space tailored to individual needs – in an urban location, in conscious proximity to others who share similar ideas about living and working in the city.

In the initiatives in aspern Seestadt, community is at the centre. Here you can contribute your ideas, as the residents of the building groups plan, design, and organise themselves as a house community and can actively help shape things even before moving in.

Building as a community has the advantage that you can design your living arrangements according to your individual needs and possibilities. And not in a single-family house far from the city, but in an urban form, in consciously chosen proximity to others who have similar expectations for living and working in the city.

Community housing initiatives as pioneers

Vienna is growing faster than any other city in the German-speaking world. The demand for housing is enormous. That’s why the city continues to rely on the globally renowned Viennese housing model with a strong subsidised sector. Seestadt also offers a wide variety of housing options for every phase of life – from subsidised rental apartments and privately financed owner-occupied apartments to residential projects by self-organised building initiatives. High living quality is combined here with innovative and sustainable concepts. In autumn 2014, the first pioneers moved into their apartments. From the very beginning, the community housing initiatives on the central construction site D13 in the pioneer quarter were also involved, and their activities have made a significant contribution to the creation of a vibrant neighbourhood in the "Grätzl".

# aspern Seestadt Highlights

Ecological standards

Eight of this year’s 13 ÖGNB-certified buildings are located in aspern Seestadt – a sustainable success.

Sustainability + Climate

Perfectly connected

Optimal connections to Vienna city centre and the world, as well as smart mobility projects, characterise this district.

Mobility info and offers (German)

Naturally green & urban

Seestadt focuses on a balanced ratio of built space and open space – around half of the area is dedicated to public parks and green zones.

Public space + lake

Flexibility and equal opportunities

The increasing diversity of lifestyles is the central challenge for modern urban development. Building types with fixed uses – such as pure apartment blocks and office buildings – can no longer meet today’s needs.

That’s why Seestadt places great value on flexible buildings with open-use spaces that are oriented towards different phases of life. Self-organised community housing initiatives enable a combination of work, family, and social community, thus promoting equal opportunities between genders and generations.

Planning together, living together

In aspern Seestadt, numerous community housing initiatives have already been successfully implemented. In the first phase, six different projects were created with BROT-Aspern, JAspern, LiSA, Pegasus, Que(e)rbau, and Seestern Aspern – five of them directly adjacent to the education campus and Hannah-Arendt-Park, another south of Yella-Hertzka-Park. Not only apartments but also communal kitchens, offices, and a family guesthouse were realised here.

After the successful implementation in the south, the building group concept was continued. In the Lakeside Park quarter, Seeparq created not only apartments but also coworking spaces on around 1,200 square metres across three levels for 150 people – an ideal place for EPUs, start-ups, creatives, project camps, or home office. Another community project is called Mischa – here, in addition to living, there are also 20 commercial units and 15 co-working offices.

In the Lakeside Crescent quarter, the residential projects Leuchtturm Seestadt and kolok-as added two more building group projects for community living in 2021.

co-creative neighbourhood "Das Seestädter"

community housing initiatives

building plots

Projects in Seestadt

B.R.O.T.-Aspern

to B.R.O.T.

Pegasus

to Pegasus

JAspern

to JAspern

Que[e]rbau

to Qeu[e]rbau

LiSA

to LiSA

Seestern Aspern

to Seestern Aspern

Seeparq

to Seeparq

Mischa Wien

to Mischa Wien

Leuchtturm Seestadt

to Leuchtturm Seestadt

Building group kolok-as

to kolok-as

Social sustainability

Social sustainability is a central concern in aspern Seestadt. Dedicated district management actively promotes community building and strengthens urban identity in the new district. Community housing initiatives are firmly integrated into the overall concept and, through their strong identification with the location, make a significant contribution to the creation of vibrant neighbourhoods.

The focus of planning is on spaces that strengthen the sense of security and enable manageable neighbourhoods. Entrances are generally arranged on public spaces, while living rooms, balconies, and loggias are deliberately oriented towards traffic-calmed streets. This supports address and identity formation and creates a lively street scene.

Green pathways, attractive open spaces, and children’s and youth playgrounds, which are implemented across building plots, are further important building blocks for sustainable and community-oriented living together in aspern Seestadt.

Building and living together

The “Initiative for Collaborative Building and Living” offers comprehensive information on the topic of building groups. Here, interested parties will find everything they need to know about community living models, current projects, and opportunities to actively participate in shaping their future home.

to the initiative for collaborative building & living

Vienna’s co-creative neighbourhood

In the Lakeside terraces quarter, the project “Das Seestädter” is creating Vienna’s first co-creative neighbourhood. Eleven buildings form the link between the Lakeside Crescent quarter and Zaha-Hadid-Platz. An innovative planning process opens up space for ideas that have no place in conventional residential and commercial construction.

to the project “Das Seestädter”

WG Melange: Shared living 55+

In the Leuchtturm Seestadt community housing project, WG Melange has created an innovative living concept for people aged 55 and over. It combines privacy with community and offers barrier-free apartments, shared living areas, and social support from Caritas – for active, supportive living together.

to WG Melange

Services & Tools

From smart mobility solutions to digital services: Seestadt is designed to make everyday life functional, sustainable, and close to life.

Collective Garages

Secure parking spaces, e-charging stations, spacious walkways and green open spaces create an urban environment with a high quality of stay.

Public transport

The U2 takes you to the city center in 25 minutes. Suburban trains, trams, buses, and cycle paths complement the offer and enable sustainable travel.

Public Space

Wide sidewalks, safe cycling routes, and green open spaces make Seestadt a place with a high quality of stay. Squares, parks, and promenades invite people to linger and meet.

Carsharing

Flexible carsharing options are available at several stations in aspern Seestadt – a convenient alternative to owning a car, with no fixed costs or maintenance required.