TRUE URBAN SPIRIT

2 VIENNA: BUILDING THE FUTURE
HIGH-QUALITY
URBANITY
FOR ALL PARTS
OF THE CITY
The fact that a condensed, compact city can be extremely attractive
is not only evidenced by many Gründerzeit quarters and historic
city centres, but also by new development projects in Vienna
and other cities. For this reason, urban development areas need
to present adequate structures that respond to the demands of
a growing city, allow for the sparing consumption of land and
resources and permit mixed-use concepts. This generates the frequency
and demand needed by retailers and functioning groundfloor
zones and results in comprehensive, walkable local supply
in a city of short distances. Sufficiently dimensioned, high-quality
green and open spaces are obviously part of these new developments.
Moreover, new (urban) technologies are employed as central
instruments of resource conservation.
Of course, this strategy calls for sophisticated planning procedures,
respect for local specifics and the integration of new quarters
into the surrounding cityscape. In addition, instruments, legal
regulations and target systems are oriented towards the needs
of a prospering, modern and international metropolitan region.
BUILDING THE CITY
Urban mixed-use approaches – i. e. the combination of
housing with other types of use −, high-quality den -
s ities and low resource consumption are becoming key
criteria for construction projects and ventures. Future
urban expansion projects for development axes along
high-level public transport corridors should therefore
predominantly reflect densities of a minimum net
floorspace ratio ( NFSR) of 1.5; in the environs of
high-level public transport, the minimum NFSR should
be 2.5. With especially positive location factors, higher
densities are possible on a case-by-case basis in
some areas in the context of high-rise developments
( High-rise Concept). However, all projects must be
assessed in context with existing local conditions (e. g.
transition zones to existing, less concentrated or lower
built structures with stable types of use or construction
projects adjoining historic villages cores).
Implementation of settlement types that allow for the
development of compact, mixed, walkable and cyclingfriend
ly neighbourhoods (even at the urban periphery) with
well-integrated supply facilities and family-oriented housing
types while taking account of the principles of gender mainstreaming.
“Development of requirement profiles for public space”
for all urban expansion measures (taking account of groundfloor
zones).
Identification and adaptation of regulations and objectives
that can be influenced by the City of Vienna to allow for the
comprehensive implementation of high-quality densities.
Implementation of innovative mobility concepts together
with project developers.
Definition of minimum ground-floor ceiling heights in
suitable locations to support the development of mixed-use
structures in keeping with Gründerzeit principles.
Intensified information and participation of citizens and
abutters on the basis of the principles embodied in the participation
manual “Praxisbuch Partizipation”, which are in
their turn condensed and concretised in the Master Plan for
Participatory Urban Development.
Development, testing and monitoring of the effects of new
technologies for buildings, energy and information networks,
storage and control systems as well as smart mobility in
selected pilot areas (e. g. in the context of Aspern Smart City
Research GmbH – ASCR).
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