A garage party—as is customary in many rural regions—bridges the divide between private and public space, brings the neighborhood together, and offers a glimpse into the creative work taking place behind doors that are otherwise closed. Under the title “Caution—Gate Opens Automatically!” and with the help of mobile design interventions, designer Leon Theodor is launching an experiment at VIENNA DESIGN WEEK to use the city’s garage doors to open up the semi-public space—shaped by subculture and hobbyism—to the street. He uses design as a tool for new social connections, and his intervention invites participants 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.
Caution – Gate Opens Automatically!

photo credits:
Robert Puteanu Esel.at / Renee Steinbach