Demonstration project senior-housing concepts for new construction and renewal in Vienna, Menzelgasse

Acompagning the process of realisation and settlement of two projects of senior-housing (new construction and renewal), documentation and general assumptions.

Content Description

Status

completed

Summary

The research project "New conceptions for elderly people in new construction and renewal" within the program "Haus der Zukunft" has been generated from autumn 2002 until autumn 2003. Subject of the project was to analyze the redevelopment of two existing projects in Vienna´s 16th district (one new construction, one renewal) towards the special needs of elderly people. One aim was the comparison of costs between a "normal" new construction resp. a "normal" renewal with projects designed especially for elderly.

The results were: Additional costs arose only from the video interphone and from the motion detector for the lighting of the hall, which will be installed to cover the special needs for security of elderly people. Both in new construction and renewal there are no relevant additional costs expected inside the flats. What is more expensive on the one hand can be saved on the other. Slightly more expensive in the renewal project is the elevator. It will be extended to the cellar, where a large community room will be provided. To make it work for handicapped people the elevator has to have a station not only on the level of first floor, but as well on the entrance level. This makes a special construction of the elevator with doors on two sides necessary. The non-profit housing association as developer of the two projects decided to realize both housing projects accessible for elderly people, especially migrants.

With the subsequent project therefore project support is to stand in the center of the research work. Task should be on one hand to accompany the building progress and to point out and analyze the eventually evolving problems which result from the seniors-compatible specification. Special attention shall however be concentrated on the final concept and support of the housing project. Corporately with the housing developer, the HEIMAT ÖSTERREICH, and the Caritas, possibly in addition with future inhabitants, a customer orientated service will be created (caretakers...). It is also to be examined, in how far the services and/or the information offered by housing sales and housing management are prepared to meet the needs of seniors and - if necessary - appropriate consulting measures will be prepared.

Beyond that a concept shall be prepared together with the developer, shall be observed in practice and analyzed afterwards. The following goals are pursued with the project:

Potential problems arising with the seniors-compatible change and/or new building are pointed out, analyzed and flow into a report, which is made accessible also for housing developers and building firms, etc.. It is tried to roll up the existing, but not yet as such recognizable market for senior dwellings, particularly for migrants.. Which services does the inhabitant want? How are customers to be addressed? Does the housing management has to adjust itself particularly to this target group? The answers to these questions, which result from monitoring the model project, can facilitate the marketing and the handling for developers and operators of senior complexes of residential buildings. In this connection also a mental impetus is to be given to the construction industry to prepare and offer special services for older humans, who do not live in seniors-compatibly equipped dwellings. If necessary, an adaptation of the project will be made after the analysis of strengths and weaknesses.

Project Partners

Project management

Dr. Ursula Rischanek
FGW-Forschungsgesellschaft für Wohnen, Bauen und Planen

Partner

  • Dr. Wolfgang Amann, Kerstin Götzl
    FGW-Forschungsgesellschaft für Wohnen, Bauen und Planen
  • Arch. DI Wilfried Haertl (GF), Ing. Stefan Gröger,
    HEIMAT ÖSTERREICH, gemeinn. Wohnungs- und Siedlungs GmbH

Contact

Dr. Ursula Rischanek
FGW - Forschungsgesellschaft für Wohnen, Bauen und Planen
Löwengasse 47/5, A 1030 Wien
Tel.: +43 (1) 7126251-13
Fax: +43 (1) 7126251-21
E-Mail: ursula.rischanek@fgw.at