What is it like to live and work in the Seestadt Aspern? What challenges and opportunities have arisen for residents and urban developers over the last ten years? How can the insights gained be transferred to other projects? These and other questions were discussed at the second Urban Future Talk organized by the Tourism & Hospitality Management study programs at FHWien der WKW.
At the invitation of endowed chair and urban researcher Cornelia Dlabaja, Katharina Kirsch-Soriano da Silva (Caritas Vienna neighbourhood work) and Gerhard Schuster (Wien 3420 aspern Development AG) reviewed the last ten years. Architecture journalist Maik Novotny hosted the evening and posed the question to the experts: ‘What makes Seestadt so special?’
Seestadt Development Area
Seestadt Aspern, one of the largest urban development areas in Europe, will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the start of settlement in 2024. With an area of 240 hectares – the size of Vienna’s 1st district – this innovative project has established itself as a showcase for sustainable and smart urban development. In the last ten years, not only have over 11,500 residential units been created here, but more than 20,000 jobs have also been generated.
The basic idea behind Seestadt was not just to create living space, but to develop an entire city. In contrast to previous projects, the planning here focused on open spaces and ground floor zones right from the start. Cornelia Dlabaja emphasized that this approach was specific to Seestadt and differed significantly from other urban development areas.
Social Mixing and Participation as a Specific Feature
Katharina Kirsch-Soriano da Silva emphasized the important aspect of community work, which was implemented even before the first residents moved in. The neighborhood management played a decisive role and offered support and guidance with e.g. impulse events, the Urban Lakeside Forum and assistance with participatory projects.
‘Seestadt is intended to be a ‘Viennese mix’ of residents,’ explained Gerhard Schuster, Managing Director of Wien 3420 aspern Development AG. This is because a central concern of the Seestadt is to create a socially mixed community. This is supported by a wide range of initiatives, and the various forms of housing (rental, ownership, community building, building groups) are intended to contribute to this. Interestingly, the building groups are a very specific feature of Seestadt, with nine already built and more in planning.
Overall, the first decade of Seestadt shows how well-thought-out planning and active citizen participation can go hand in hand. Despite initial skepticism on the part of the media and the population, Seestadt has established itself as an urban village – a place where people can live and work well.