Case 3: A suburban neighborhood, comprising of Residential complex in Nenzing, Austria.

Suburban Context

Nenzing is a municipality in the district of Bludenz, Vorarlberg, AT, with 6,402 inhabitants and an area of 110.31 km2. It is located between the two cities of Feldkirch and Bludenz and is surrounded by natural areas and mountains. The proximity to the two cities, which are easily accessible by car, public transport and even by bike, gives Nenzing its suburban character. While Nenzing used to be more rural in character, today it is growing rapidly and more and more urban elements are being added continuously. The continuous growth of Nenzing brings many advantages as well as challenges. A densification of the settlement area is essential in times of biodiversity crisis, climate change, soil loss, rising real estate and rent prices, and so on. Densification brings with it many questions about public and semi-public spaces.
In our research area, a housing project is being built, which aims to bring together the advantages of rural living characteristics and the advantages of a more densely planned settlement. There are many semi-public spaces which are new to the area, which include the community gardens, the playground, the pedestrian path through the residential complex, and the community room.

Suburban Challenge

In the first phase we listened to the residents who just moved into the new apartment complex. In the next phase we want to interview the residents who live in the single-family-homes around the complex. Maybe we will also listen to the people living in an apartment block nearby. Semi-public space between the buildings of the apartment complex: the community gardens, the playground, the pedestrian path through the residential complex, and the community room. Conflict between municipality & residents on the one hand, and the “Wohnbauselbsthilfe” housing association on the other hand. They need to level up their communication and improve their practice of listening to each other.

15 Min City challenge addressed

Which (semi-)public spaces do the residents visit on a regular basis? Is everything they need accessible within 15min or do they regularly travel to gain access to the spaces they need in their everyday lives? If so, how do they travel there (means of transportation)? Could a space that is reachable within 15min (without a car) be opened up to more diverse uses so that people don’t need to travel so far?