From March 17-21, 2025 Vienna became a living laboratory for urban development and tourism as FHWien der WKW hosted the Erasmus Blended Intensive Program (BIP) “Caring for the City: Placemaking in the interplay of urban development and tourism.” This innovative week-long event brought together students and experts from across Europe to explore sustainable urban planning and visitor economy strategies in the heart of Austria’s capital. The week was organized by Cornelia Dlabaja and Daniela Wagner from the Tourism & Hospitality Management Study Programs as part of the Urban Tourism & Vistor Economy Management Master’s program.
International and Interdisciplinary Approach
40 international students, professors and researchers from IUAV di Venezia (IT), ISCTE Lisbon (PT) and the Technical University of Bialystok (PO) and FHWien der WKW accepted the invitation to the first Erasmus BIP at FHWien der WKW. In her welcoming address, Barbara Zimmer, Head of Center for International Education & Mobility (CIEM), emphasized the pioneering nature of this BIP, as it was the first program of its kind at FHWien der WKW. Head of Study Program Florian Aubke was pleased that the project involved interdisciplinary teams working on the topics of the Master’s Program in Urban Tourism & Visitor Economy Management.
The students spend a week working in eight teams on the challenges of sustainable urban and tourism development in three target areas.
The week began with input from renowned researchers Prof. Dr. Alexandra Paio, University of Lisbon, Prof. Dr. Giovanna Marconi, University of Venice, and Dr. Donagh Horgan, Inholland Hogeschool. Ethan Kent from New York provided insights into the work of Placemaking.x and the “Project for Public Space”.
To combine research with practice, the area management GB*16, the Brunnenpassage, the Grätzllabor Innere Stadt, Roland Krebs from the planning office SuperWien, Johannes Lutter from the UIV, as well as the internationally renowned placemaking expert Ethan Kent from Placemaking.x passed on their knowledge to the students. The project partners were the Innere Stadt district council and the Vienna Tourist Board.
Event organizer, FH-Professor Cornelia Dlabaja, emphasized the importance of this diverse group: “We were thrilled to bring together students and experts from various disciplines and cultures. This interdisciplinary approach was crucial for developing innovative solutions to the complex challenges facing our cities today.”
The week startet with an insightfull speach of Ethan Kent, from Placemaking.x (USA) and Donagh Horgan form Inholland hogeschool (NL).
Exploring Vienna’s Urban Landscape
After the inputs on methods and theories, there was a series of guided walks during which local experts shared their knowledge about the study sites with the students. The first of these was a visit to the Brunnenpassage, an input from Pieter Owen on the Grätzlerei, and a guided tour by the area manager GB*16 and Cornelia Dlabaja. The students then began their analysis of the current situation and social spaces in the areas under investigation. In the afternoon, Cornelia Dlabaja gave input on the planning history of the historic old town of Vienna and Daniela Wagner provided background information.
At the Old Town Hall
The round table on placemaking at the interface of urban and tourism development in the Old Town Hall was the crowning glory of the first project phase. The event was hosted by Patricia Davis, Deputy Mayor of the Innere Stadt district. In the subsequent panel discussion, Giovanna Marconi, IUAV University of Venice, Alexandra Paio, University of Lisbon, Daniela Wagner, FHWien der WKW, Ethan Kent, Placemaking X, Johannes Lutter, UIV, and Cristina Catalanotti, IUAV University of Venice, discussed burning questions and findings on the challenges facing cities and possible solutions. The talk was moderated by Cornelia Dlabaja.
Ikea-Grätzl and Westbahnpark
The first field survey took place on Wednesday. In the early afternoon, there was another walk to the Ikea Grätzl and the planned area of the Westbahnpark. Dr. Yvonne Frank from the University of Vienna gave insights into her many years of research on the Westbahnhof and the area around Ikea. A visit to the Motel Jo & Joe was then on the agenda and Pieter Owen presented the Paradiso initiative, a non-profit association that promotes play in the city. Roland Krebs from the SuperWien planning office then explained the concept for the surrounding Mitte 15 urban development area.
The excursions offered students an insight into the diversity of Vienna’s neighborhoods and urban development areas and the challenges they face in terms of sustainability, social cohesion, climate resilience and tourism management. In the evening, the social dinner on the Badeschiff offered students the opportunity to exchange ideas in a relaxed atmosphere.
The final event on Wednesday was the Placemaking Network Event at which Ethan Kent met local Placemakers and which was used as a founding event for Placemaking Austria at the Badeschiff.
Research Project: Reimagining Public Spaces
The core of the program revolved around a hands-on research project. Students worked in interdisciplinary groups to analyze current challenges in urban planning and visitor economy in three target areas:
- Schwedenplatz
- Westbahnhof
- Brunnenmarkt
Using empirical analyses and creative placemaking approaches, the groups developed concepts for current or future planning initiatives. This Erasmus project allowed students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, fostering problem-solving skills and innovative thinking.
After further analysis and preparation on Thursday, the results of the interdisciplinary research teams were presented on Friday, the last day of the program, in the FAKTory. Judith Fritz, Head of the FAKTory, welcomed them and the international experts Alexandra Paio, University of Lisbon, Cristina Catalanotti, IUAV, and Donagh Horgan, Inholland Hogeschool, provided expert feedback on the students’ work. As did our local experts Patricia Davis from the Innere Stadt district council and Tarek Diebäcker from Grätzllabor Innere Stadt, who was also involved in the creation of the Mitte15 master plan as a landscape planner.
The “Caring for the City” BIP represented a unique opportunity for students to engage with the complexities of urban development and tourism in a real-world context. By bringing together diverse perspectives and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, the program aimed to inspire the next generation of urban planners and tourism professionals to create more sustainable, livable cities for all.
Professor Dlabaja concluded, “We didn’t just teach students about urban planning and tourism – we empowered them to shape the future of our cities. The interdisciplinary nature of this program was what excited me most, as it reflected the complex, interconnected challenges our urban spaces face today. Without the cooperation with our local partners and international researchers, the implementation of the project would not have been possible.”