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Diploma and Master Theses (authored and supervised):

G. Grandel:
""We are here for everyone". Aspirations, tensions, and dilemmas in Vienna´s neighbourhood management";
Supervisor: S. Knierbein; Institut für Raumplanung, Interdisciplinary Centre for Urban Culture and Public Space, Forschungsbereich 285-02, 2021.



English abstract:
Over the last 30 years, neighbourhood has increasingly become promoted by
political programmes. But despite high expectations, empirical findings show
sobering results and critics point out both ambivalences and the weak theoret-
ical foundation.
This thesis explores how this turn towards neighbourhood is echoed in
Vienna´s urban development. To do so, I focused on neighbourhood manage-
ment. It was established 2012 as part of Gebietsbetreuung Stadterneuerung.
Therefore, I conducted one month of participant observation at GB North.
Based on reflections of neighbourhood managers, I illustrated arising
tensions. Despite the disposition "to be there for everyone," selection arises.
Neighbourhood managers use different subject constructions to deal with this
dilemma. In urban development, neighbourhood management is assigned a pre-
carious position: Emphasis is placed on downward informing and horizontal
networking qualities, not on vertical integration into planning.
Neighbourhood here indicates both a spatial mandate and invokes a notion
of community, built up through social relationships. The turn towards neigh-
bourhood here stands for a shift from individual participation of affected stake-
holders to a community-oriented activation approach, aiming at social cohesion.
Based on this, I outline an interface with urban planning and a concept of
allyship to further develop neighbourhood management in an outlook.

Created from the Publication Database of the Vienna University of Technology.