From placemaking to making-place, henni+milli’s soft opening in Vienna 

On May 27th, partners of the Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) InclusiveCity project inaugurated henni+milli, a temporary placemaking intervention at the Danube Canal (Donaukanal) in central Vienna—where Henriette-Fahrbach’s Promenade and Emile-Turecek-Promenade meet at Franzensbrücke. As part of InclusiveCity—a collaborative initiative across five European cities exploring the 15-minute city and the inclusion of underrepresented groups in public spaces—henni+milli will transform a previously underused corner of the canal into a space for consumption-free leisure activities. From June to September, the site will serve as an open and welcoming place for everyone. 

The Donaukanal has become an increasingly popular space for leisure, nightlife, and tourism, especially during the summer months. While this has contributed to its vibrancy, processes of commercialization and overregulation have often prioritized consumption-oriented uses over informal and community-based activities. Despite its popularity, the canal is still frequently perceived as a dividing line between districts rather than a shared and inclusive public space. 

Together with our partners Superwien and Social Design, we introduced this ongoing placemaking intervention, which from June to September will bring new life to an underused corner of the canal. Throughout the summer, InclusiveCity partners in Vienna, together with students from the Vienna University of Technology and the University of Applied Sciences Campus Vienna, will activate the space through consumption-free activities that invite everyone to linger, meet, and connect in a temporary modular infrastructure built and designed by students. 

During the event, we also shared highlights from last year’s InclusiveCity placemaking activities to spark discussion and brainstorm on how to engage more people with the Donaukanal and inspire future activities at Henni & Milli.

To support this collective process, we also launched our Open Call for activities at henni+milli.

What makes public spaces truly inclusive? How do spaces become vibrant places through the people who use and shape them? And how can urban policies support—or hinder—placemaking initiatives? These are some of the questions that will guide our summer program at Henni & Milli. We will explore these challenges with a programme that—in addition to selected activities from the Open Call—will include movie nights, swimming gatherings, discussions with local stakeholders and public officers, and an official opening on the 19th of June.

More events and gatherings will take place in the coming weeks. Follow the project on Instagram to stay updated: @henniundmilli