After successful completion of the course, students are able to understand important sociological concepts related to housing and urban neighborhood as well as various approaches in diversity and migration studies.

Students can apply these concepts to describe and evaluate different housing situations and housing projects in local and international contexts.

In referring to the studied relationship between migration, housing and neighborhood development, students are capable to formulate action approaches in the field of spatial planning.

The seminar focuses on housing and urban neighborhoods in the context of debates on migration and diversity. It links theory and practice. In the theoretical part, selected texts on housing and neighborhood will be discussed. In relation to this literature, different concepts of diversity and migration will be contrasted and debated. We will discuss the implementation of such theoretical approaches in form of concrete planning projects, whereby various case studies will be addressed. The practice-oriented part of the seminar consists of discussions with invited practitioners and scholars. They will present concrete projects on migration, housing and neighborhood from Vienna and other cities. If the Covid 19 regulations allow it, there will be excursions to Viennese neighborhoods that include conversations with experts and residents.

Reading (theory and case studies), empirical material (field observations), discussion.

Written term paper