EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Grätzl Lounge is the result of a project partner with a vision, a motivated team of five students, extensive secondary research and over 110 interviews. The aim of this project was to create a unique concept, to implement in an empty storefront in Vienna, while respecting the wishes and needs of the neighbors and adding value to the Grätzl. In the end the project team managed to come up with a detailed recommendation on what this concept should include and in which part of Vienna it has the best chances of success.

Goal

The goal of this project was to find out, what neighbors and other stakeholders and organizations like Wiener Wohnen, WKO and Wirtschaftsagentur Wien would value the most for such a project and what should be kept in mind to increase its acceptance in the Grätzl. Based on that, the most suitable ideas for Grätzl Lounge ought to be identified and tested. Another goal was to find out which neighborhoods in Vienna would be most suitable.

Methodology

For this project, the Design Thinking method was applied. This method consists in five iterative phases, with the goal to come up with a thoroughly tested, accepted and ‘human centered’ concept. The first phase is the emphasize phase, where the needs and wishes of the target group/stakeholders are identified, so the focus lies on the problem, which at a later stage shall be solved. The next phase is called define phase and aims to identify the most important insights of the empathize phase. It serves to define the needs and problem. After this, the next stage aims to find fitting solutions, starting with the ideation phase, where innovative, creative and suitable ideas are generated for the project. Based on those ideas, in the following prototyping phase, a prototype is developed, which is afterwards tested within the target group in the last phase: the testing phase. All phases can and should be repeated, in order to come up with an innovative and suitable solution.

Results

The result of the project is a detailed recommendation for a multifunctional, yet clear concept for a Grätzl Lounge in the third district in Vienna, which is based on over 110 interviews, thorough secondary research, about 90 ideas and three prototypes. It consists in five interconnected components. The first part is the Grätzl Lounge: an open space, that is open for everyone and provides a pleasant ambient with comfortable furniture, books, board games, coffee, and snacks. Besides the Grätzl Lounge, the core of the project are emergency flats, especially for single parents in need as well as small flats for mid-term tenants. Each flat has at least one bed, a bathroom, a tiny tea kitchen and a living area. Inhabitants are welcome to make use of the shared kitchen, which is the next part of the project. The shared kitchen is a fully equipped kitchen, that is available for all tenants living in the flats. Lastly, the concept is rounded off by a multifunctional room, which can be rented for private and business purposes or events at a reasonable price.

Cooperation Partner

• Immacon Projektentwicklungs GmbH
  Engelsberggasse 4/1
  1030 Vienna
  Austria
  www.immacon.at 

Contact Person

• Martin Mössmer
  mm@jj1.immo
  +43 650 4454433

Student Team

• Paula Dobernig

• Sofia Domingues

• Brooke Holden

• Luisa Lackner

• Ondřej List

Project Manager

• Erik Kommol, M.Sc.

• Carola Wandres, M.Sc.