The river as an natural barrier (1700-1862) The first great regulation (1868-1899) - Donaudurchstich 1900-1960 From end of Monarchy to postwar years (1954-1969-1984) Das Hochwasserschutzprojekt Contemporary Tendencies




Contemporary Tendencies

Reasons / Problems

With the finishing of the Donauinsel, the projects relating directly to the Donau water are completed. The city has created one remarkable hugh leisure facility, and added lifestyle to the river. But there was no real other movement towards the Donau beside of the offical urban actions.

Actions

Finaly the efforts of the city to make this space more attractive reached the commercial world. Though like profit oriented enterprises do, they started to develope large office and residential projects on the main river and the Donaukanal, bringing in a "glance of urbanism" by trying to build high rise buildings.
 






Results

Generali Tower. Architects: Hans Hollein
1020 Wien,  Obere Donaustrasse, Design 1997
This building makes a major contribution to the discussion of the different options for buiding on the Donaukanal. The site marks the oldest point of acces to the site from the north and establish a very particular relationship whit the landscape: the formal contrast and the new advertisement technology.

General view of the building from the Donaukanal

Results

Uniqa Tower. Architects: Neuman and Partner
1020 Wien, Untere Donaustrasse, Design 2000
This is another controversial high rise building on the left side of the Donaukanal, it marks the confluence of the river Wien and makes a land mark that will define the space of Schwedenplatz.
Photomontage of the finished building, right down Urania.

Results

Millennium city, Millennium Tower. Architectes: Peichl, Podreca, Weber
1200 Wien, Handelskai, Design 1997
The project is one of the most representative new developments with an office block incorporating residential use, and a shopping and entertainment complex. This project can be seen as an experiment of building towards the main Donau river bed, but in the former weak environment of the 20th district. It's decentral site location can be seen as a withdraw scenario, so if it fails in a urban point of view it doesn't destroy more central districts of beautiful vienna.



General view of the complex, to the left the underground line U6

Results

Donau City. Architects: Cufer, Czech, Delugan-Meissl, Loudon, Krischanitz, Hollein, Holzbauer u.a.
1220 wien, wagramerstrasse, Schüttaustrasse. Design 1992
Another plan to bring Vienna closer to the Donau, involved new areas like the area between the Neue Donau an d the VIC. The intentions are to turn it in to a new multifunctional district as a second city centre, the Donau City is a designation for a number of mainly independent projects which exhibit "variety in unity" by observing the requirement of the master plan.



General view of the Donaucity and the VIC

Results

Wagramer Strasse. Architects: Coop Himmelblau, NFOG, Peichl
1220 Wien, Wagramerstrasse, Kratowilstrasse. Design 1994
The area is an important urban axis that comunicate the City whit the developments in the east of Vienna, pasing the Donaukanal, Donau and Alte Donau.The heterogeneous development present in this area involves a mixture of typologies: alongside the traditional blocks, one also finds isolated models of sculptural architecture.



The Wagramer Strasse, the linie U1 and the VIC

Personal Review

It can be seen quite controversial if the commercial projects of the last decade helped the city to reach it goals. Especially the complex of Donau City, VIC and Wagramer Strasse tried to establish a new center and forgetting sometimes that it's main attraction should be it's unique location between the Neue Donau and the alte Donau rather than building higher, bigger, different to it's competing neighbours.