IBA Wien (Internationale Bauausstellung Wien) was a multi-year urban development initiative based in Vienna, Austria, operating from 2016 to 2022. As the first International Building Exhibition in Vienna, it was launched by the City of Vienna to tackle pressing issues around social housing and urban living in the contemporary era. The organisation acted as a process and platform rather than a permanent institution, gathering a diverse mix of professionals, planners, policymakers, and citizens to co-develop new solutions for housing and neighborhood development.
IBA Wien’s central theme, “New Social Housing,” addressed challenges such as affordability, shifting demographics, new working and living patterns, and climate change. Unlike traditional social housing models elsewhere, Vienna’s approach emphasized social inclusion, high quality of life, and cohesive neighborhoods. Among its flagship projects were the Sonnwendviertel, with 5,500 apartments for about 13,000 residents, a 7-hectare park, offices, retail, and a school campus; Quartier Neu Leopoldau, repurposing a former industrial site; and the Wolfganggasse development, creating 850 rent-controlled apartments and essential local infrastructure. IBA Wien also spotlighted innovative construction methods, such as the modular Vivihouse and the EU-funded HOUSEFUL circular economy pilot.
By the end of its term, IBA Wien served as a catalyst for urban transformation, with most of its selected projects completed or nearing completion. Its legacy is seen in the sustained collaborative process and the new standards set for social housing and urban coexistence in Vienna.