Creatives for Vienna – Making Spaces: The Winners 2025

November 28, 2025|LD/RW

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Ten new concepts for revitalizing and designing Vienna's open spaces.

Vienna is growing, and social, climatic, and urban developments are presenting the city with new challenges, making open spaces in Vienna increasingly important. There is a need for places in neighborhoods where people can meet, create together, and exchange ideas.

The “Creatives for Vienna – Making Spaces” competition invited creative minds to rethink precisely such spaces. The competition sought concepts that would revitalize outdoor spaces in Vienna through shading, greening, installations, or creative programs and participatory activities.

The winners have now been announced: after a selection process by a jury of experts, ten projects were awarded grants of €15,000 each. They show how the creative industries enhance open spaces in neighborhoods, strengthen communities, and adapt Vienna to social and climatic challenges.

The projects are being implemented with the support of partners such as Lokale Agenda 21 Wien, the Museumsquartier, Funkhaus Wien, and Kreative Räume Wien. A cooperation with the Vienna Climate Biennale 2026 will enable selected projects to present themselves to a broad public.
 

[Translate to English:] (W)Hole in One
“(W)Hole in One” by Tracing Spaces transforms the vacant site of the Northwest Train Station into a small urban golf course with an ecological nature trail. The project playfully demonstrates the potential that arises during the transformation of the area into a new, ecologically sustainable district. It also revitalizes the location with courses, festivals, and mobile symposiums.
1 / 10
Dusts Institute's “Light for Diversity” project uses red-filtered lamp shades in four Vienna parks to reduce light pollution. This protects nocturnal insects while raising visitors' awareness of biodiversity through information boards and night workshops.
2 / 10
[Translate to English:] Bruno von studio d*luxe
“Bruno” by studio d*luxe transforms Bruno-Pittermann-Platz into a lively exercise and cycling course for children and families. Colorful floor markings and new course areas enliven the space and create a playful environment for all generations.
3 / 10
"VIA TANKE" by Lukas Lex retells the story of Johanna Garage: the gas station becomes a meeting place and cultural space. As a table tennis court, cinema, or travel agency, it becomes a testing ground for the future of fossil fuel infrastructure.
4 / 10
“Wiener Würstelstand – Eine Versuchsanordnung” (Viennese sausage stand – an experimental setup) by friendship.is examines the sausage stand as a socially diverse place in public space. With the mobile “HOT BOX BUILDING,” it becomes a laboratory in which new uses of urban space are tested and documented.
5 / 10
“Kühle Sache” (Cool Thing) by Felix Steinbacher expands an existing fountain on Johanna-Dohnal-Platz into a communal, cooling meeting place. An ecological sloping table enlarges the water surface and invites people to gather right by the water.
6 / 10
Placemaking Austria's “Schwimminsel Donaukanal” (Danube Canal Floating Island) creates temporary, safe access to the water during hot summers. The island offers space for swimming, relaxing, and further developing Vienna's swimming culture.
7 / 10
“Die Wiener-Klima ANHALTESTELLE” (The Vienna Climate Stop) by Klara Jörg Architecture transforms existing public transport stops along the O line into places of exchange. Modular elements invite people to pause and stimulate conversations about climate, the city, and coexistence.
8 / 10
“Die Stadt führt sich auf” (The City Performs) by the University of Applied Arts Vienna transforms the open space around the Burgtheater into a stage for everyone. Reused stage sets are turned into new street furniture and opportunities for social participation.
9 / 10
“Regenerative Net” by Konstantin Kim develops new shaded and productive open spaces based on horticultural structures. The open roofs protect against extreme weather and create inviting places to stay in times of climate change.
10 / 10

The award-winning projects at a glance

  • (W)Hole in One - Urban Golf in Pocket Park Nordwest as an educational trail for the ecological transition - by Tracing Spaces - Michael Zinganel
  • Light for Diversity - Reducing light pollution, promoting nocturnal biodiversity - by Dusts Institute - Adam Hudec
  • Bruno – A cycling and movement course at Bruno-Pittermann-Platz, right next to the U6 — by studio d*luxe - Sylvia Kostenzer
  • “VIA TANKE - Re-narrating a fossil-fuel hub” - by Lukas Lex
  • Viennese Würstelstand – An experimental setup - by friendship.is - Lena Elena Nagler
  • Cool Solution - Expanding the potential of existing fountains - by Julia Fraolini & Felix Steinbacher
  • Danube Canal Swimming Island – A living open space on the water - by Placemaking Austria - Jan Gartner
  • [The Viennese Climate] BUS STOP - by Anna Krumpholz, Elisabeth Ableidinger, Marlene Lübke-Ahrens & Klara Jörg Architecture
  • “The city takes the stage” - A co-creative urban development project - by Burgtheater Wien and Social Design Studio (University of Applied Arts Vienna) - Martin Färber
  • Regenerative Net - by Konstantin Kim, Ekaterina Korchagina & Osvaldo Almendra

Deadlines and submission

Next submission opportunity in 2026

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