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Vienna's Alterlaa housing scheme offers lessons for UK Labour

architecture-design · 2026-05-11

The Alterlaa social housing complex in Vienna, Austria, features 20 saunas, 14 swimming pools, affordable rents, and a five-year waiting list. Built in the 1970s, it exemplifies successful public housing with extensive communal amenities. The project demonstrates how high-quality social housing can foster community and well-being, contrasting with UK approaches. Labour could draw lessons from Vienna's model to address housing crises.

Key facts

  • Alterlaa has 20 saunas and 14 swimming pools.
  • There is a five-year waiting list for Alterlaa.
  • The complex was built in the 1970s.
  • Alterlaa is located in Vienna, Austria.
  • Rents are affordable.
  • The scheme is a social housing project.
  • It includes extensive communal amenities.
  • The article suggests Labour could learn from Vienna's model.

Entities

Institutions

  • Labour Party

Locations

  • Vienna
  • Austria
  • Alterlaa
  • United Kingdom

Sources