From a Freight Yard to a Biotope with an Urban Frame­work

The 1994 urban development master plan for the former Nordbahnhof grounds still envisioned a comprehensive block-edge structure similar to the one implemented around Rudolf-Bednar-Park. For the remaining 32 hectares, a new competition produced a solution that received significant international attention: How has the Freie Mitte project developed?

The 2011 competition for ideas was won by VlayStreeruwitz with their concept Freie Mitte — vielseitiger Rand (open centre — versatile perimeter). The creation of a dense urban framework with scattered high-rises surrounding an area of sprawling landscape was intended to preserve this open space while simultaneously establishing a direct connection to it for each building site. Today, the Freie Mitte consists of various zones. The focus was of the design for the Stadtwildnis (urban wilderness) was on preserving nature. The existing historical railway infrastructure was made usable in the Gleislandschaft (railway track landscape) through targeted interventions, while a more intensive design was implemented in the narrower areas along Gleistrasse, the park strip, and the urban terracing.

With: Thomas Proksch, LAND IN SICHT; Dominik Scheuch, YEWO Landscapes; Lina Streeruwitz, StudioVlay Streeruwitz

Moderated by Suzanne Kříženecký, Az W