Neighbourhood Walk: Neubau (Club Melange)

Neubau is easily the most hip district in all of Austria. It is a place where the focus is on new music, art, food and ways of living. We'll look at how this district is different to its neighbours.

Neubau has a strong identity in Vienna (as do Ottakring, Favoriten, Innenstadt), but this can also be destructive, because there is resentment and humour about the Seventh District.

Neubau is trying to copy an interesting, innovative and social idea from Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, the “ville du quart d’heure”. Which means the city of a quarter hour, meaning everything you need is available within a 15 min walk or bike ride. It would make life simpler, faster, more ecological and more friendly . Also less stressful. Bringing neighbourhoods back to life.

Streets are full of life here. I call it Street capital.

It is an area of architects, designers, small boutiques, interesting food, cool bars and lots of art. And excellent public space.

Museumsquartier is the 9th largest cultural space in the world. Designed by Fischer von Erlach as the stables for the Habsburgs, and indeed the Habsburg's old furniture is in Neubau, at the Hofmobiliendepot.

Mahü is the biggest shopping street in Austria. And looks like a forest from above. What impact has the pedestrianisation of some of Mariahilferstrasse had on local people, businesses and ecology?

Spittelberg used to be famous for its prostitution, and they were here because of the soldiers in the neighbouring Stiftskaserne.

Vienna's most important architect and city-planner, Otto Wagner, designed, lived in and died in a lovely house on Döblergasse, at the junction of Neustiftgasse.

Neubau has a boundary which is four straight lines, just like some African and American states. But in a city, they make sense, as a frontier.

Who lives here, and who doesn’t?

What’s the political difference between the voters of Neubau and neighbouring districts?

How many local residents are not allowed to vote (eg the large number of Germans here)?

Why is it called ‘Neu bau’?

‘Hipsters’ bring innovation, entrepreneurship and good food to a neighbourhood. Surely they should be welcomed and celebrated? Eugene will deconstruct the hostility towards this lifestyle group, and defend them from the tired criticisms they receive.

The Viennese love nature, calm and green spaces, and yet Neubau has almost none of these, but still very high rents. We will ask some locals how life is here.

Why do the Viennese use postal code numbers instead of their district names?

If Vienna is the city with the highest liveability ranking in the world, and Neubau is the most hip district in Vienna, does that make this part of the city the most desirable place in the world to live? It often seems to Eugene that the locals have no idea how lucky they are to live in this city. And if you don’t recognise what you have, you may well lose it.

Vienna is ranked one of the most gay-friendly cities in the world, & Neubau is the most liberal part of this progressive city. We will celebrate the success of the Ampelpaerchen, & look at Richard Florida’s thesis that openness to homosexuality correlates with the post-industrial success of urban economies.

Vienna offers beauty, space and opportunities. This is a look at the contemporary city, beyond the cliches.

24% of Neubau residents own a second home.

At top of Hauptbuecherei, comment on the different educational outcomes in Neubau and RH5H. 74% of Neubau 10 year old kids get into a Gymnasium, while in RH5H less than half do.

As with the Vienna Ugly tour, one of the aims here is to find new ways of looking at the city, so that this walk feels as fresh for the Viennese as it does for visitors, and therefore they come together in lively debate. In Vienna there is less dialogue between visitors and locals than in cities where the tourism focuses on new things (Copenhagen, Austin, Milan).

Whoosh’s project is to mix up politics and fun, and to engage locals into walking around their home town, opening dialogue between the international community and the city.

You must book a ticket for this event in advance, on www.recom-relocation.at/club. Please direct any questions to clubmelange@recom-relocation.at. They run many events for people adapting to life in Wien.