In this episode of the henni+milli podcast, we explore what it means to create inclusive public spaces and who our cities are really designed for. We speak with Andreas Brunner, historian, co-founder of Vienna’s Rainbow Parade and scientific director of QWIEN – Centre for Queer Culture and History, and Julia Girardi-Hoog, an expert in architectural sociology and gender-sensitive urban planning at the City of Vienna. Together, they discuss how queer visibility, gender equality and the historical experiences of marginalised communities can reshape our understanding of public space. Andreas shares insights into Vienna’s queer history and the significance of the Rainbow Parade as a claim to the city, while Julia reflects on how urban planning can better respond to the diverse needs of people across different ages, identities and life circumstances.

From street names and rainbow-coloured traffic lights to neighbourhood initiatives, housing projects and the design of parks, the conversation highlights how seemingly small interventions can contribute to a more inclusive urban culture. The guests also explore the tensions between visibility and privacy, safety and freedom, and symbolic gestures and meaningful structural change. As political backlash against queer rights grows, they emphasise the importance of continuing to defend diversity and create spaces where everyone feels welcome. Ultimately, an inclusive city requires more than colourful symbols: it needs diverse spatial qualities, stronger connections between community initiatives and urban institutions, and accessible, affordable public spaces where people can meet, participate and simply be themselves—without being expected to consume.

About our guests:

Andreas Brunner is a historian and co-founder of Vienna’s Rainbow Parade. He is scientific director of QWien: Vienna’s Centre for Queer Culture and History, where he has curated major exhibitions and leads Queer City Walks, sharing LGBTIQ+ history in public space.

Julia Girardi-Hoog is a Dr. in Architectural Sociology and leads Gender Planning in the Centre for Overarching Urban Planning, Smart City Strategy, and Participation at Vienna’s Planning Authority. Her work continues over two decades of gender mainstreaming addressing safety, visibility, care work, and everyday needs of diverse groups in the design of public spaces.

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Henni+Milli ⁠is a temporary, consumer-free public “placemaking” project and community testing ground located along the Donaukanal in Vienna, specifically named after the Henriette-Fahrbach-Promenade and Emilie-Turecek-Promenade near the Franzensbrücke. This project was implemented in the framework of the FFG funded DUT InclusiveCity Project and implemented with the funding of the MA45/City of Vienna.

This podcast was produced in a cooperation with ⁠⁠⁠Placemaking Austria⁠⁠ ⁠and ⁠⁠⁠superwien⁠⁠⁠.

Hosts: Vivian Monteiro Malta & Roland Krebs