BERN.DORF extended an invitation to its grand opening, and the city of Mödling accepted. More than 100 people registered for the Dorf.Fest, and many other visitors attended the festival even without registering.
An industrial site transformed into a neighborhood with a village-like atmosphere. The site on Fabriksgasse in Mödling—known as the headquarters of the Aichelin company—opened on July 23, 2026, for new uses. Industrial warehouses have been transformed into workshops, think tanks, shared workspaces, sports courts, event spaces, and pop-up shops. In short: not a village, but a place that creates. Under the motto “Bern.Dorf – A Place That Creates Opportunities.”
Grand Opening at Fabriksgasse 1-3, Mödling
The program included insights into the vision for the future of the industrial site, the introduction of the first “Village.People,” and a tour of the site and its facilities. Among the highlights of the festival was the fountain simulation, an idea that will soon be brought to life. Berndorf Besteck was represented with a pop-up store. Rollsport Austria added to the cool atmosphere of the village festival with a spectacular skate show. Face painting for kids, the SOS Children’s Village’s bounce house, and a vintage store were all essential elements of a festival like this. S’cazzo became the first sausage kiosk in the history of Bern.Dorf to set up shop there for this event. The regional winemakers Weinbau Breitenecker and Weinbauer NIGL – Die junge Generation were also represented at the village festival, as was the Brauunion. A big thank you goes to the event technology company One for all, which handled all technical matters. Thanks also to Image-Interface
During the tour, the Bern.Dorf team showcased what has happened so far, what is still to come here, and what opportunities the site still offers. So it’s not just about “Place Creates Opportunities,” but also “Mödling Opportunities.” The team is in close communication with the city government, Mayor Silvia Drechsler, local companies—including Berndorf AG (represented by Mr. Franz Viehböck) and the Aichelin Group (represented by Mr. Christian Grosspointner)—educational institutions, and many others to shape the future of this area together. And so everyone is certain that Mödling will gain a new “village square” with Bern.Dorf.
Those interested can apply now to become new “Dorf.Bewohner” at interesse@bern-dorf.at.
Photo Gallery
Photos (C) Gwendolyn Schlimp
