Vienna Opens Community Space “Das Willi”

Why this is here: Vienna allocated 225,000 euros toward renovating the garage into “Das Willi,” supplementing funds raised through public donations.

Vienna’s Leopoldstadt district now hosts “Das Willi,” a roughly 200 square meter meeting space within the renovated garage of the Integration House. The city funded the 340,000 euro renovation with 225,000 euros, while the remaining costs came from donations. “Das Willi” aims to be a consumption-free zone for informal encounters and exchange.

The space offers a flexible venue for volunteer projects, open consultations, lectures, discussions, cultural events, language cafés, cooking workshops, and exercise courses. It already hosts regular music sessions with instruments people bring themselves, alongside a piano on site.

The Integration House envisions “Das Willi” as a place where clients and neighbors can connect easily, though it remains to be seen how the space will adapt to evolving community needs and long-term funding. The space is now open after a soft launch, with an official opening planned for Monday.