Contracting Sustainable Social Housing? A Development Tool for New Urban Areas

Abstract

The contribution deals with a planning and coordinating method for the new urban development areas within the existing urban fabric of Vienna, where social housing is the main use. Social housing projects influence the entire urban transformation process in Vienna, a city with nearly a century-long tradition in this field. Since 1995, the City of Vienna has implemented the “housing contractor competition” model to improve the quality of subsidized social housing in terms of architectural design, cost efficiency, and ecological impact. This competition model engages architects, engineers, and contractors in developing building concepts with guaranteed maximum costs, encouraging cooperation from the earliest planning stages. By involving all stakeholders—planners, subsidy departments, and contractors—the process aims to optimize projects technically, economically, and ecologically, fostering stronger competition and performance. In recent years, architects and contractors have expressed the need for changes to the process, reflecting differing planning traditions and priorities. This study examines how Vienna’s tool for housing production could be adapted to ensure sustainable quality in urban transformation, analysing its social and ecological impacts on building typologies, public spaces, traffic, and the ground-floor zone, using interviews, hearings, and published materials.