A green community rooftop: Inclusive project for the homeless and students in Vienna, Austria.

Abstract

VinziRast-mittendrin is an inclusive and groundbreaking residential project where former homeless and students live, work and learn under the same roof. How can such diverse individuals give rise to community? How can a building’s outdoor space contribute to the identity of its inhabitants? As GreenTeam, these were the questions we wanted to answer with the planning of a green rooftop and outdoor area under this project, jointly with the gaupenraub +/- architecture bureau. The construction of a large vegetable garden on the rooftop with the participation of the project’s inhabitants was critical for the development of an identity space that promotes community values. This article introduces the project and our experience in the creation of an inclusive space.