Case studies Austria

General Description:

In the context of an increasing focus on public and open spaces as spaces for integration by both private initiatives and municipal governments, this work investigates aspects of the appropriation of open space provided for community gardens and its impact on the different levels of integration, as introduced by Dangschat 2000. Furthermore, aspects to do with design-related regulatory frameworks are examined for their impact on socio-cultural integration processes. Based on three case studies in three different Austrian cities, diverse forms of appropriation of the community gardens are examined. The comparison between the three cases sheds light on whether autonomous use has effects on processes of integration and which design and use-related conditions help activate the community gardens‘ potential for integration.

Allotment Gardens in Austria

Due to the late industrialization of Austria, the first AG was founded in 1904 near Vienna to offer fresh air and sun to the working class. After World War I, the emphasis of AGs changed towards self-supply. Since 1952 (78,000 members), because of competing land demands for residential settlements, traffic infrastructure etc., AGs were reduced appreciably, with a soft upturn since the mid-1970s. Today are approx. 53,000 allotment gardens in Austria. The “Zentralverband der Kleingärtner und Siedler Österreichs” (Central Association of allotment holders and settlers in Austria, founded in 1916) is the umbrella organization, representing 39,234 members (= 1,000 ha) organized in 384 clubs and 5 regional associations. Besides, there are AGs run by the Federal Railway Agricultual Association (Verband der ÖBB-Landwirtschaft, 900 ha, circa 16,000 members), churches or other institutions. In addition, there are also private AGs.

The frame conditions of AGs are dependent on the different federal state laws: The size of AG s varies from 120m² -650m². The lease contracts for an allotment have an minimum of 10 years (railway gardens: from precarious gardens up to 80 years). The utilization is restricted to non-commercial use and recreation. In Austria, AGs normally contain a little house or cabin. In Vienna, the houses in AGs can be rededicated to residential areas because of housing shortage.

Allotment Gardens in Salzburg

In the city of Salzburg, the first allotment site was founded reasonably late in 1941. Today the Salzburg allotments cover approx. 30 ha. This is 0.46 % of the administrative area of the . There is no explicit AG-law in Salzburg, the only regulation concerns building measures: only small wooden huts are allowed for storing gardening tools and for shelter with a floor space of max.14m² and without heating. In the Salzburg allotments, the trend towards recreational and leisure gardens is not to be overlooked. Lawn and ornamental areas are increasingly replacing the land for growing fruit and vegetables.

Research Focus: Assessment of allotment gardens in an ecological perspective

Our focuses are

1. an indicator-based evaluation of the ecosystem services of the allotment gardens and
2. a survey of the ecologically relevant behavior of the allotment gardeners.

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