Kooperativ Ternitz - New cooperative models for a climate resilient settlement revitalization

Initial situation and motivation

Climate-neutral cities and neighbourhoods not only require technical and structural modernization of buildings, but also new approaches to urbanistic development of neighbourhoods. The project "Kooperativ Ternitz" addresses the experimental development of new cooperation models for settlement revitalization. 

It builds on the previous project "Transform Ternitz", in which prototypes for the multi-dimensional modernization of the existing settlement structures were developed for the "Dreiersiedlung", a former workers' housing estate in Ternitz with a high need for renovation and a significant percentage of vacancies. 

The first modernization steps will start in 2025, and it has become clear that even more comprehensive innovations will be necessary in order to meet challenges such as center development and local supply, climate-resilient microclimate and sustainable mobility. The municipality of Ternitz, which has successfully applied to become a pioneering small town in the mission "climate-neutral city", is part of the consortium and sees the project as a pilot project - on the way to climate neutrality for the municipality.

Goals and Methods

"Kooperativ Ternitz" aims at the cooperative transformation of the settlement center, infrastructure and public space as well as forms of mobility. For these topics, we will develop new concepts as well as new operational, legal and financing models in a cooperative form. 

Particularly innovative elements that go far beyond the state of the art with regard to participation processes in rural municipalities and overall with regard to the design of social-ecological transformation are the initiation of cooperative practices through collaboration and co-creation as well as some methodological tools that we want to use. 

What should be highlighted is the further development of the "People's House" as a settlement center with the involvement of artist residencies, as well as the use of methods of tactical urbanism in the form of open space experiments, which test diverse uses of communal and public spaces, redesigns of street space and new infrastructures for climate resilience.

Desired results and findings

As part of the revitalization of the settlement center, the "People's House" on site is to be revived and established as a cooperative settlement center in the future. Neighbourhood initiatives can find space there, as can activities from associations, social or cultural institutions. Based on a microclimate analysis, the project will identify the need for tree planting, unsealing, shading, cooling and water management. 

As the project progresses, green and blue infrastructures will be designed and residents and caretakers will be involved in their operation and care. Based on the collection of mobility data and surveys, the project also develops sustainable mobility solutions that are suitable for everyday use. On the one hand, this involves the redesign of street spaces and restructuring of parking spaces. On the other hand, this addresses the development of climate-friendly mobility offers -involving regional mobility service providers or self-organized sharing models. 

The project team passes on the developed models and approaches to other stakeholders, and publishes a booklet on "Cooperative models for climate-resilient settlement revitalization". In this way, the results can inspire cooperative practices for climate-resilient settlements in other regions.

Project managemen

Caritas der Erzdiözese Wien

Project or cooperation partners

• Carla Lo Landschaftsarchitektur
• einszueins architektur ZT GmbH
• Rosinak und Partner ZT GmbH
• SCHWARZATAL Gemeinnützige Wohnungs- & Siedlungsanlagen GmbH
• Stadtgemeinde Ternitz

Katharina Kirsch Soriano Da Silva
Absberggasse 27 / Stiege 3 / 2. Stock
A-1100 Vienna

Tel.: +43 (664) 842 78 18
E-mail: katharina.kirsch@caritas-wien.at
Web: https://www.dreiersiedlung.at/