Location of chosen project areas
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Urban Design Trip in VIENNA
U-Bahn 15min
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INTRODUCTION U-Bahn 30min
On the international scene, the capital of Austria boasts a long-standing tradition of heritage conservation, impressively high share of public transport, a city of outstanding townscape merit, and extensive social housing initiatives (Vienna City Administration, 2014). Despite the challenges brought about by globalisation and dynamic population growth, it has been able to retain its hard-earned reputation as one of the world’s most liveable cities. As such, the way Vienna conserves its glorious heritage whilst meets the evolving demand of modern society is worth examining for any planning or designing team. This report in response proposes an urban design tour focusing on four project areas: the UNESCO-listed historic city centre (1st District), Vienna University of Economic and Business, or WU (2nd District), social housing neighbourhood Alt-Erlaa (23rd District), and one of the Europe’s biggest urban development projects Aspern Seestadt (22nd District). The projects are elaborated through four topics: Transport and Mobility, Heritage Conservation, Townscape and Legibility and Social Equity, associated by with urban design illustrations. Necessary comparison and contrast is embedded in and at the end of the report.
ahn U-B in 40m
Basemap: Mapstack. Drawn by author.
Destination 01: City Centre
The historic centre of Vienna has always been considered a total work of art as it retained a remarkable degree of authenticity and integrity in terms of urban fabric and architectural styles, which demonstrate a continuous interchange of three key periods of European cultural and political evolution, i.e., the Middle Ages, the Baroque period and the Gründerzeit (City of Vienna, 2009).
1). It connects ornate architecture ensembles such as the State Opera House, City Hall, Burgtheatre, and a series of public and green space. Four out of six U-Bahn metro lines run along this famous boulevard and across innerestadt, complemented by extensive bus services running both daytime and nighttime (Map 3). Besides, there is a reasonable allocation of bike sharing stations (Map 4) associated with policies on speed reduction and restricted parking space (WHC, 2001, p51), all helping people to navigate safely and conveniently within innerestadt.
Transport and Mobility: Viennese twenty-three districts are pedestrian-friendly and easy to navigate by public transport, especially in the highly permeable street and block system of city centre. Multiple movement choices are available for all age, gender and vulnerability groups. There is Ring Tram running along the Ringstrasse bordering the World Heritage site parameter (Map PLAN60832 Student ID: 10254245
International Fieldtrip - Vienna 7 May 2018
Map 1: UNESCO nominated Vienna Historic City Centre site boundary and the buffer zone. Source: WHC, 2001. P62-3. Page 1
Townscape and Legibility:
1. Schwedenplatz
2. Griechengasse
3. Grashofgasse
monuments, fountains emerge continuously and draw people’s eye sights. A terminated vista of an imposing palace invites people for further exploration. Arcades serve as commuting paths while also create a rhythmic navigation experience with suddenly widened and confined views. The whole site is also legible in terms of its clear edge: the majestic boulevard and canal border. Heritage Conservation:
Map 2: Ring Tram Route along Ringstrasse. Source: https://www.wienerlinien.at/media/files/2016/folder-viennaringtram-web_184247.pdf. (Accessed: 20 April 2018)
Map 5: Townscape: key architectural groups and key vista in Innerestadt. Drawn by author.
The delicately designed and adjusted cityscape also adds credits to the walkable urban environment in innerestadt. The architecture groups covered key genres and norms across history, such as the gothic St. Stephan’s Cathedral, the baroque Karlskirche and Hofburg Palace extension, Secession House of Art Nouveau, modern archetype Looshaus and Haashaus accompanied by recurrent controversies. The diverse structures form the unique skyscape of innerestadt and act as local to city-scale landmarks that help both residents and visitors navigate (Map 5).
Map 3: U-Bahn and Bus Network in Innerestadt. Source:https://www.wienerlinien.at/media/files/2018/cityplan_220937.pdf (Accessed: 20 April 2018)
5. Jesuitengasse
6. Doktor-Ignaz-Seipel-Platz
7. Lugeck (Lane)
8. St. Stephan’s Cathedral
9. Graben (Boulevard)
10. Kohlmarkt (facing Hofburg)
11. Gateway of Hofburg
12. Hofburg Courtyard
13. Pathway to Heldenplatz
14. Heldenplatz
15. Äußeres Burgtor
16. Maria-Theresien-Platz
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Map 4: Bike Sharing Stations Distribution. Source: https://www.citybikewien.at/en/stations/stations-map. (Accessed: 20 April 2018)
4. Schönlaterngasse
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Map 6: Serial Vision starting from Schwedenplatz and terminated at Museum Quarter. Drawn by author.
17. Front of Museam Quarter
18. MQ Courtyard
Importantly, it is not individual architecture masterpieces or public space that decides innerestadt as a world heritage site, rather their formative interaction that creates a continuous, cohesive, and contextually responsive townscape (City of Vienna, 2009, p19). Key views and vistas are fundamental elements that fulfil a legible and attractive townscape. Taking a route starting from St. Stephan’s Square (Map 6), various types of active frontages help create an animated and informally supervised public realm, including shop fronts, and residential facades with generous provision of windows or balconies. Along the route, focal points such as
Apart from the buffer zone designated by WHC (Map 1), Viennese themselves have dedicated a tremendous effort to retain the historical urban patterns and original material of structures within innerestadt. The creation of the Imperial and Royal Central Commission for Monument Research and Maintenance in 1850, for example, enabled Vienna to harbour an exceptional degree of authenticity and integrity in design, material and workmanship that still works today and is guaranteed for the future as well (WHC, 2001, p9). Meanwhile, the Building Code for Vienna consciously prevents high-rises from becoming a standard reality. Within the World Heritage perimeter, the demolition of old structures requires demonstrative proof from developers and in-depth examination by the City Administration, and new projects must be characterised with supreme quality and do not impair the key visual axes, vistas or panoramic views in innerestadt (City of Vienna, 2009, p22). Haas Haus constructed in 1985, therefore, has been the only contemporary architecture in innerestadt for a long time. Importantly, the success of preservation does not turn its back to growth and development. A remarkable example is the upgrading of the historic Danube Canal where the canal-side open space was transformed into a barrier-free leisure and shopping area (Figure 1). The case demonstrates how new qualities could be discovered in a historic city that adds to the quality of life.
Figure 1: The upgrading of Danube Cabal Promenade brings citizens closer to water edges. Source: https://www.wien.info/en/ music-stage-shows/donaukanaltreiben. (Accessed: 21 April 2018)
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Social Equity:
Destination 02: WU
Walking in innerestadt it is easy to see urban design details that seek to assure equal access to social goods and services for every one. These include well-equipped transport system and clear road signs which allow passengers with any vulnerabilities to move around freely and safely (Figure 2-5), barrier-free public amenities such as public square, parks (Figure 6), nonexclusive design of public infrastructure such as LGBT-friendly traffic light system (Figure 7), gender neutrality design (e.g., ramps and broadened pavements for strollers and wheelchair users, extra street lighting at night), etc.
The new campus of Vienna University of Economic and Business is located on an interesting site: the previous red light zone, and is immediately neighbouring the former royal hunting ground to its southeast, and Prater Amusement Park to its northwest. Launched in 2013, the 90,000 m2 project has now become Vienna’s epitome of modern architecture.
Figure 2,3: Tram stations equipped with raised platform & Tram with street-level access.
Transport and Mobility: The campus has efficient attachment to public transport network, including two underground stations on each end, links to all cycle ways and bus routes (Map 7). Within the campus area, underground parking slots are kept as few as possible and no direct entrance to buildings is available (Map 8), just to encourage people to use the central walkway. However, the campus’ vision for high accessibility and mobility level seems to be better delivered inside the buildings than in public space. The guide-ways for the sight impaired are more delicately dealt with in the department buildings (Figure 8-9) while the one leading the way to main public square suddenly ends in front of a tree pit (Figure 10). Ironically, the imposing Library & Learning Center, the core of the university, has no guide-way access at all (Figure 11).
Figure 4: Clear signals of cycle path, pedestrian path everywhere, esp. at crossroads. Figure 5: Coloured lighting stripes symbolise different subway lines and guide directions.
Bus Link
U2
Campus WU
Figure 6: Barrier-free access to Rathaus Square. Figure 7: LGBT-friendly traffic light system
Map 7: Public Transport Connection of Campus WU. Drawn by author
e.g., the lack of enclosure in central open square (Figure 13) whilst overwhelming enclosure in some space between buildings (Figure 14), working more as pathways than a pleasant piece of public space to stay (Figure 15).
Map 8: Plan and sections of Campus WU, with underground parking highlighted in red. Source: https://www.archdaily.com/447791/ wu-campus-masterplan-busarchitektur. (Accessed: 3 May 2018) Figure 8
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Figure 12: Architectural Styles in campus WU
Figure 10
Figure 11
Townscape and Legibility: The campus area has a far-reaching front image, distinct from the dignified townscape of historic centre. The seven building complexes are designed by the most renowned international architecture firms, each of them with unique characters in colours and materials, all pursuing design excellency (Figure 12). There is nowhere on campus that one can escape from the imposing views of the masterpieces, which in a sense makes the place legible in terms of mental mapping. The fully glazed windows extending from ground level ensure sufficient supervision on the public realm while at the same time allow natural sunlight in. However, the architects are so famed that the management team had to spend the greatest share of time and effort mediating in-between. Consequently, the campus ended up with a grand assembly of individual masterworks, but rather a poorly organised and operated public realm,
Figure 13: the central square lacks enclosure, leaving the mobile library unused.
Figure 14: Overwhelming enclosure created by two building facades, no seats or trees, like a canyon.
Figure 16: The fir planks Figure 15: the bench sits awkwardly alone against blank walls, façade of D3. Photo taken by with no plants or bushes or even author. bin attached)
Heritage Conservation: Compared to the historic centre, WU is obviously less successful in paying homage to its site heritage —— not the red light zone, but the royal hunting ground. The measure taken by designers was to build a façade of fir planks for D3 building that directly borders the Prater Park, as visual reference to the generous green, whereas in reality it looks like an unaccomplished construction (Figure 16).
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Social Equity: The idea of design for the public good that is non-rivalrous, non-excludable for all is quite well delivered in the campus. WU as a public university has clear pursuit to establish a campus that is not only a place for academics, but also part of the city-wide public facility (and beyond). The principle is reflected in the fenceless design throughout campus, free access to ground floor facilities, special equipment in all auditoriums, and tactile guidance system for the sight- and hear-impaired in every building (Figure 17).
Destination 03: Alt-Erlaa
Heritage Conservation:
Vienna has an impressive number of social housing initiatives that can be traced back to post WWI red Vienna period. One of the most striking projects might be Alt-Erlaa located 10km away to the south of city centre.
Figure 18: The accessible public realm with few stairs and necessary ramps. Photo taken by author. Figure 19: The steep stairs and ramp access to buildings. Photo taken by author.
Townscape and Legibility: The 23-27 residential towers took a futurist form that is visually prominent from any view angle (Figure 20). The terraced family apartments until twelfth floor with their individual balconies and well-maintained plants create a compelling, rhythmic faรงade (Figure 21), and in turn generates a strong spatial identity that is distinctive from any other neighbourhood or housing complex in Austria. The public realm flanked in-between was designed in a naturally rolling landform with an abundance of mature trees and winding paths running through (Figure 22), which defines a clear edge to its surroundings.
Figure 17: The floor plan with engraved braille alphabet
Map 10: Alt-Erlaa Plan. Souce: http://architectuul.com/architecture/view_image/wohnpark-alt-erlaa/5657. (Accessed: 2 May 2018)
The project was constructed between 1973 and 1985, and even today the built form is nowhere close to any conventional housing blocks in the country. However, the project has been ideally maintained and conserved, working well for low-income groups. The fact that the existence of this futurist housing complex can prove Viennese attitude to their valuable assets in social, economic, and wider terms. Social Equity: Compared to the open, inclusive historic centre and WU, Alt-Erlaa is more an insular and inward-looking community, which is not a bad thing for its inhabitants. There is sufficient supply of public infrastructure, from kindergarten, clinics, church, shopping mall, to indoor communal space and roof-top swimming poor, serving approximately 10,000 occupants in a range of family-friendly apartments (Modestus, 2012), featuring a sustainable self-sustained satellite city (Figure 23). The public realm provides access-free venues and meandering for all groups, private space is secured for each tenant to the most extent, namely individual balconies on lower floors, smaller balconies but better views on upper floors. In all, equal opportunities to achieve high-quality life are largely guaranteed here in the neighbourhood.
Transport and Mobility: Alt-Erlaa is well connected to the rest of the city by public transport (Map 11). Within the neighbourhood it is easy to move around (Figure 18). The only drawback might be the access to buildings, with its steep stairs and ramps making it almost impossible for wheelchair users to enter (Figure 19).
Figure 20: The prominent view of Alt-Erlaa blocks from U-Bahn station. Source: https://www.zeit.de/zeit-magazin/2017-06/wohnpark-alt-erlaa-wien-zara-pfeifer-fs. (Accessed: 10 March 2018) Figure 21: The rhythmic faรงade of terraced housing. Photo taken by author.
Bus Link Alt-Erlaa
Figure 23: Public Facilities: Kindergarten, clinics and seating area, shopping mall and swimming pool. Photo taken by author. Last figure: https://spfaust.wordpress.com/2012/08/26/alt-erlaaarchitecture-that-serves-a-social-purpose-social-housing-thatlooks-feels-like-luxury-housing/. (Accessed: 5 May 2018)
U6 Map 11: Public Transport Network of At-Erlaa. Drawn bu author.
Figure 22: The winding roads and abundant green. Photo taken by author. Page 4
Destination 04: Aspern Seestadt
Aspern Seestadt is one of the biggest development projects across Europe resided on the former airfield in 22nd district. Now two phases of development have been completed and put into use, including the Seestadt Terminus on southeast, the Lakeside Park Quarter, and the southwest residential zone with 1,500 dwellings.
Figure 25: Building street ratio in Seestadt. Photo taken by author.
Transport and Mobility: The general vision for transport and mobility is to prioritise slow travelling, which gave rise to the inauguration of two metro stations at preliminary development stages (City of Vienna, n.d. p29-30) that established the north-south linkage. In addition, a ring road was constructed to connect all key development areas. The design obviously resembles the simple but functional form of Ringstrasse in historic centre. Besides, shared use streets and squares are delivered extensively in the scheme assisted by efficient bus links.
Figure 26: Residential blocks differentiated by different facades, esp. the colour of the balconies. Photo taken by author.
Social Equity:
Map 13: Planned Bicycle Links Network. Source: http://urbantransform.eu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/07/D4.2-Vienna. pdf. (Accessed: 5 May 2018)
Townscape and Legibility: The picturesque lake and lakeside park is the heart and landmark of the community, surrounding which residential buildings mushroomed (Figure 24). A coherent streetscape between residential blocks spreads throughout the site due to the dominant building street ratio between 1:1 and 1:2 - a widely appreciated human scale dimension (Figure 25). Nevertheless, although each block has its own architectural style as distinguished by materials, balconies, or colours (Figure 26), newcomers might still struggle in way-finding as the general block size and streetscape look so similar to each other.
Map 12: Public Transport Buffers. Source: http://urbantransform. eu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/07/D4.2-Vienna.pdf. (Accessed: 5 May 2018)
scheme has incorporated high-quality housing for all: young couples, large families, students and the best agers (the elderly) with customised subsidy, which sets the prerequisite for the development of a sustainable, vibrant community in future (Aspern Development AG). Additionally, design for easy movement for all groups is also visible (Figure 28).
Figure 24: The Lakeside Park. Photo taken by author.
In Seestadt, the provision of various types of public space with different level of inclusiveness is an exemplar of spatial design targeting at all social groups. Officially half of the total project area is public space, including streets, squares, green and recreational areas (Figure 27). They scattered either within each residential block or in the public realm, meeting the demand of different social groups: children, elderly, women, wheelchair users, etc. Seestadt also shares vision in achieving social equity with Alt-Erlaa in that each apartment owns a private balcony. Crucially, the
1. Public Lakeside Park
2. Public Playground
3. Roadside Landscape I
4. Roadside Landscape II
5. Roadside Sitting Area
6. Terraced Landscape
7. Community Park Type I
8. Community Park Type II
9. Playground exclusive to the tenants living in the building
Figure 27: Various types of public space provided in Seestadt, which can be roughly categorised as public park, roadside linear landscape, neighbourhood playground and courtyard garden (inclusiveness from high to low). Photo taken by author.
Figure 28: Ramp to residential buildings and guide-ways for the sight-impaired. Photo taken by author.
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Conclusion
References
Four project areas are chosen to present the capital’s multiple facets, from its gilded past, to the promising future. All of them are efficiently connected by public transport that cost less than an hour of commuting, and within each project there has been conscious attempt in achieving high mobility. Historic centre undoubtedly enjoys the most variegated whilst legible townscape due large part to the textbook-likely human dimensional design. Though WU clearly boasts its architectural achievements more than the creation of public space, the facilities in buildings do contribute positively as part of the city-wide resource tank, and may have attracted more appliers and investors potentially. Alt-Erlaa and Seestadt are more like satellite cities branded with their own unique identity, but both with delivery of safe and pleasant public realm and townscape merit. The most consistent and comprehensive endeavor of the whole planning and design team is probably the concern of assuring equal opportunities for all social groups to high-quality and vibrant life, as proved by the non-excludable design for public amenity access, gender-mainstreaming design, the provision of animated public space that is non-rivalrous to all, and private space (e.g. balcony) for individuals.
Aspern Development AG (n.d.) ‘Homes + Something for everyone’. [Online] Available at: https:// www.aspern-seestadt.at/en/lifestyle_hub/housing__jobs/apartments_for_sale__let. (Accessed: 7 May 2018)
The city has explicit plans for future towards higher mobility, conscientious conservation of its valued townscape, and continuous pursuit of social equity in terms of higher transparency in planning processes and more non-excludable design. Vienna has proved its hard-earned title as the worlds’ most liveable cities, a city who cares about its inhabitants and takes action on it.
City Council of Vienna (2010) 100 current projects of urban development 2001-2010. [Online] Available at: https://www.wien.gv.at/stadtentwicklung/studien/pdf/b008109a.pdf. (Accessed: 22 April 2018) City of Vienna (n.d.) Build the City: Examples for and from Vienna. [Online] Available at: https:// www.wien.gv.at/stadtentwicklung/studien/pdf/ b008206l.pdf. (Accessed: 4 May 2018) City of Vienna (2009) The Historic Centre of Vienna World Cultural Heritage and Vibrant Hub. [Online] Available at: https://www.wien.gv.at/ stadtentwicklung/studien/pdf/b008028.pdf. (Accessed: 22 April 2018) Modestus, F. C. (2012) ‘Alt-Erlaa: Architecture That Serves A Social Purpose — Social Housing That Looks & Feels Like Luxury Housing’, Faustian urge, 26 August. [Online] Available at: https://spfaust.wordpress.com/2012/08/26/alt-erlaa-architecture-that-serves-a-social-purpose-social-housing-that-looks-feels-like-luxury-housing/ (Accessed: 5 May 2018) Vienna City Administration (VCA) (2014). Smart City Wien Framework Strategy. [Online] Available at: https://smartcity.wien.gv.at/site/files/2016/12/ SC_LF_Kern_ENG_2016_WEB_Einzel.pdf. (Accessed: 21 April 2018) World Heritage Centre (WHC) (2001) Nomination Document - Historic Centre of Vienna. [Online] Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1033/ documents/. (Accessed: 20 April 2018) Word Count: 2479 (excluding captions and titles)
List of Abbreviation
VCA - Vienna City Administration WHC - World Heritage Centre
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