Vienna's 'Donaufeld' & 'Village in the Third' to Add 16,000 Homes, Prioritizing Sustainability
Vienna's housing scene is set for significant changes with two major projects, 'Donaufeld' and 'Village in the Third', planned to accommodate 16,000 people. These developments aim to tackle the city's housing news while prioritizing sustainability.
The 'Donaufeld' project in Floridsdorf will create a new district for 14,000 residents, with two-thirds of apartments remaining affordable thanks to subsidies. This comes as experts predict a two-tier development in housing, with Vienna benefiting from large projects while other regions struggle. Connectivity will be improved with a new tram line linking the 'Donaufeld' quarter to public transport.
Meanwhile, rents for privately financed apartments are soaring above €20 per square meter, with no signs of slowing down. The 'Village in the Third' prioritizes sustainability, featuring green roofs, geothermal energy, and photovoltaics for energy supply, and climate-resilient architecture. It will be Vienna's largest car-free quarter, boasting a two-hectare park at its heart. Both projects are supported by key stakeholders, including ARE Austrian Real Estate and UBM Development, in collaboration with the City of Vienna and wohnfonds_wien.
High construction costs, interest rates, plot prices, and lengthy approval processes are hindering new housing construction nationwide. In response, the federal government has allocated a €2 billion package to create 20,000 affordable housing units and subsidize renovations by 2027. Despite these efforts, completion numbers of new housing units have fallen to their lowest level since 2010, with Vienna expected to finish fewer than 8,000 units in 2026.
The 'Donaufeld' and 'Village in the Third' projects aim to provide much-needed housing news in Vienna while promoting sustainability. However, challenges in construction and affordability persist, requiring ongoing efforts from both the government and private sectors to address the city's housing news effectively.
