With his rolling party tables, Leon Theodor steps into private parking garages in Hietzing and takes the festivities out onto the street. 

A garage party, as is common in many rural areas, bridges the gap between private and public space, brings the neighborhood together, and offers a glimpse behind doors that are otherwise closed. Under the title CAUTION, GATE OPENS AUTOMATICALLY! and with the help of rollable objects, designer Leon Theodor is launching an experiment at the VIENNA DESIGN WEEK to open up this semi-public space shaped by subculture and hobbyism to the street. He uses design as a tool for new social connections, and his intervention encourages people not only to delve deeper into the district and get to know garage owners in Hietzing, but also to overcome their own reservations by crossing the threshold between public urban space and private property.

Exhibition and talk “Sharing ‘Festtops’”: Sun 4.10., 1pm–6pm

The tables designed by Leon Theodor, called “Festtops”, roll on toward the city center after stops at the Festival Headquarters and a quiet neighborhood in Hietzing. Their next – and final – stop is Vienna’s second-oldest multi-story parking garage, the Apollo Garage in the 7th district. On the upper deck, the objects enter into a dialogue with the architecture of the historic garage and open up new perspectives on this extraordinary structure. The final exhibition venue serves not only as a presentation space but also as a space for exchange and discussion. The focus is on the concept of collective furniture: pieces that are communally owned and can be borrowed for temporary private use.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMME:

Spotlight on the Festival Headquarters: Sat 26.9., 5pm–10pm

With his mobile “Festtops”, Leon Theodor creates the setting for a classic get-together: Here, people gather for card games, lively discussions, socializing, and celebrating together – and get a first glimpse of the project’s central themes in the process. 

Festival Headquarters, Red Area
13., Hietzinger Kai 101

Tour “Garage Walk”: Thu 1.10., 4pm–5pm

After a brief introduction at the Festival Headquarters, participants set out on a group walk to a single-family home neighborhood in Hietzing, just a five-minute walk away. The neighborhood is characterized by historic Viennese city villas, private parking garages, and spacious gardens, creating a fascinating contrast to the city’s dense urban fabric. Led by Hanna Maresch, an architect specializing in urban planning and mobility, and Alexandra Steiner – a native of Hietzing, neighborhood activist, and politician – the walk explores different perspectives on public and semi-public spaces and offers new insights into the spatial transitions, ownership structures, and potential uses of urban space, as well as Hietzing’s unique identity.

Meeting point: Festival Headquarters
13., Hietzinger Kai 101

Party “Garage Party”: Sat 3.10., 6pm–10pm

For the garage party, the tables designed by Leon Theodor will be rolled from the Festival Headquarters to Elßlergasse, just a five-minute walk away. There, the so-called “Festtops” will form the basis for a temporary festival grounds where the boundary between the street and the garage is deliberately blurred. The furniture creates space for shared meals, celebrations, and relaxation, inviting visitors to experience the urban space in a new way. Artistic, cultural, and musical performances from the neighborhood will accompany the evening, making the neighborhood itself part of the program. Welcome drinks will be served. In the spirit of a classic street festival, visitors are also invited to bring their own food and additional drinks to contribute to a communal evening.

Part of the garage party is also the presentation of the Erste Bank Social Design Prize 2026 to the selected Stadtarbeit projects.

13., Elßlergasse 18