Public spaces don’t always have to wait years for planning and major investments. Sometimes, all it takes is the initiative of people who want to improve the place they use every day.
Today, the forecourt of GRG7 Kandlgasse High School in Vienna’s Neubau district has been transformed into a welcoming space shaped by the entire school community. Students, teachers, parents, and neighbors worked together to create a place for breaks, socializing, and everyday school life.
The community installation took place on June 8. As part of the project, we donated our Platform parklet to the community. With support from the mmcité team, the students assembled it themselves right in front of the school, becoming active participants in transforming a space they will use every day.
The project is based on the principles of tactical urbanism. The temporary intervention is not the final goal, but the first step toward a permanent transformation. Raised planters made from Euro pallets, new greenery, and urban furniture were added to the site. Over the coming months, the school forecourt will serve as a living laboratory, with insights from its everyday use helping to shape its final design.
Projects like this demonstrate that even small changes can make a big impact. When communities take an active role in transforming public spaces, they build a genuine sense of ownership and a stronger connection to the places they share.
