RaumCoop 2.0 - Space Cooperative, a systematic operational model for activating unused or underutilized spaces.

Starting point / Motivation

The ground floor area (EG) offers space for encounters and exchange, and its design plays an important role in local quality of life. However, high costs associated with activating and long-term use of ground floor spaces present an increasing hurdle for local creators (SMEs), residents, and civil society initiatives.

When shared space usage is considered to better utilize the space and save costs individually, the organizational effort for space users is enormous. Professional, profit-oriented space companies operate in the market, but their offerings are often unaffordable for the aforementioned user groups. These groups resort to interim uses that are often precariously organized and lack systematic knowledge transfer from one project to the next.

Content and Goals

The project aims to implement a systematic operational model that activates unused and underutilized spaces and makes them accessible to local creators (SMEs), residents, and civil society initiatives through digital tools on an hourly, flexible, and affordable basis.

As part of the project, the organization RaumCoop, a cooperative for affordable and shared space, will be structurally strengthened and led towards economic independence. Additionally, the RaumCoop's space activations will strengthen neighborhood social networks and build a community.

The innovative potential of RaumCoop lies in creating a bridge between professional space management, knowledge transfer, affordability, and empowerment of users. Its goal is to provide space to test new (urban) practices and solutions in times of multiple crises, such as innovative forms of collaboration, neighborhood engagement, and sharing, as well as cultural and caring activities. These activities are often open-ended and generate little or no financial return.

Affordable and flexible spaces are needed to enable such processes. Thus, RaumCoop is not only a social innovation in itself but also sees itself as an incubator and infrastructure for the development of further social innovations.

Methods

To achieve this, RaumCoop will be supported by the project consortium over three years. The project's focal points include organizational development, finding the appropriate legal form, refining the business model, establishing the necessary digital infrastructure, building a network of members, and optimizing operational processes.

Additionally, the establishment of the cooperative will be scientifically accompanied, and the social and ecological impact of the organization will be researched.

Expected Results

Based on the development of RaumCoop, it will be evaluated whether the existing legal forms and legal frameworks in Austria are suitable for enabling social innovations in the city.

Another research goal is to investigate the role of administration in social innovations and how it can prepare the ground and provide concrete support in the sense of cooperative administration.

Project management

Bundeshauptstadt Wien MA 25 Technische Stadterneuerung

Project or cooperation partners

• Florian Bauernfeind
• Joël Foramitti
• Marianne Gugler
• KRW KREATIVE RÄUME GmbH
• Technische Universität Wien - future.lab - Plattform für inter- und transdisziplinäre Lehre und Forschung (E285)
• Technische Universität Wien, Institut für Rechtswissenschaften
• Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, Kompetenzzentrum für Nonprofit- Organisationen und Social Entrepreneurship
• Verein RaumCoop - Kooperative für leistbare geteilte Raumnutzungen

Ruth Fartacek
Maria-Restituta Platz 1
A-1200 Vienna
Tel.: +43 (1) 4000 25102
E-mail: Ruth.fartacek@extern.wien.gv.at
Web: www.wieneuplus.wien.gv.at