The Vienna Model: Housing for the Twenty-First Century City

The city of Vienna has achieved extraordinary milestones in public housing: today, over 60% of the population lives in subsidized housing, and the city itself owns 220,000 rental units—about 25% of the total housing stock. Another 200,000 affordable housing units are owned by limited-profit housing associations. The city is clearly in control of the housing market. This stands in stark contrast to the US, where the private market is the primary provider of housing. Vienna’s successful model dates back to the days of "Red Vienna," when the socialist government took an active interest in designing for the masses. That interest has since evolved into a housing policy that has produced works by architects such as Josef Hoffmann, Adolf Loos and Richard Neutra. The Vienna Model shines the spotlight on 60 projects from the last 100 years, with a focus on the public art that has complemented the city’s housing since the First Republic. Around 250 illustrations and accompanying texts provide a comprehensive overview of the "Vienna Model."