Small Town Hub Vöcklabruck

Developed through a citizen participation process, Vöcklabruck has transformed a vacant building into a thriving hub for local businesses, community organisations, and everyday life.

FROM CITIZEN IDEA TO SHARED SPACE

Like many small European towns, Vöcklabruck faced vacant shops, declining footfall, and a town centre that was gradually losing its role as a place to meet and connect. The project emerged from a Local Agenda 21 process in which residents, entrepreneurs, social organisations, and municipal actors came together to develop a shared vision for the future of the town centre. Their solution was Small Town Hub: a barrier-free, 1,300 m² space on the main square that combines local businesses, restaurants, cultural activities, workshops, social services, and open community space under one roof.

COOPERATION UNDER ONE ROOF

What makes the project distinctive is not only what happens in the building, but how it is organised. Businesses operate through a solidarity-based model that encourages cooperation rather than competition, sharing infrastructure, communication, and responsibility. Social organisations are part of daily operations, while partnerships with organisations such as Lebenshilfe ensure that inclusion is built into the project from the start. The hub also includes an open "third place" where people can meet, spend time, or participate in community life without the expectation to buy anything.

BRINGING THE TOWN CENTRE BACK TO LIFE

Since opening in October 2023, the hub has become a lively meeting place, attracting around 500 visitors every day. Around 80 partners contribute to its operation, demonstrating how shared responsibility can create lasting local value. The project has strengthened local businesses, supported inclusive employment, and brought new activity back to the town square. More importantly, it has created a space where participation does not end with consultation. Residents, organisations, businesses, and the municipality continue to shape the hub together, making it a practical example of how collaboration can strengthen both community life and local democracy.