The new urban development plan for the Vienna Valley aims to identify potential for future development, establish centers for urban regeneration, strengthen recreational attributes, and promote social awareness and interaction with the Vienna River. The Vienna Valley, extending 14 kilometers from the western city limit to the eastern Danube Canal, offers an interesting cross section of various Viennese urban landscapes. The primary element linking these different characters of Viennese urbanity is the river which, accompanied by an important traffic infrastructure, unites the city on its east-west axis.
A comprehensive planning analysis defined urban typologies and characteristically similar sections of the Vienna River, selecting critical areas of intervention. Principal to the design concept is the general aesthetic improvement of the valley, making it more appealing for the use and recreation of the local residents, while enhancing the distinct urban identities of the different sections along the river.
The plan identifies locations where existing public amenities can be maintained, brown-field sites regenerated, and new urban measures initiated. The project proposes the conversion of traffic areas into pedestrian zones, novel connections between the districts and the river embankments, and introduces green landscaping. The plan nonetheless maintains an astute deference to Otto Wagner’s historic original concept. Feasibility and phased implementation were emphasized for the gradual integration of the project into Vienna’s urban fabric.