Since its outbreak in early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has had major implications on our everyday life and spatial practices. Social distancing and closed entertainment facilities led to different ways of using public space. All of a sudden, the advantages of an urban lifestyle like a vibrant cultural scene or global economic activity came to a halt. Through the outbreak of the pandemic, many of us spent more time at home and in their immediate neighborhood, asking ourselves: How do I live? How do I want to live? And where?

The primary objective of the CURB project is to investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced residential location preferences, residential satisfaction, and urbanization processes in general. To achieve this goal, the project adopts a mixed-method approach, employing both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Specifically, a PPGIS survey was conducted in the Vienna region of Austria between May and June 2023. This survey aimed to provide insights into several key aspects, such as residential satisfaction, desired relocations, and the utilization of public green and blue environments, taking into consideration the impacts of the pandemic as well as the ongoing climate and energy crisis.

www.oeaw.ac.at/en/isr/curb