Demolition or renovation? Future of Schrödingerplatz in danger!

Demolition or renovation? Future of Schrödingerplatz in danger!

The excavators could soon be rolling in at Schrödingerplatz in the Danube city. The city administration is planning a comprehensive renovation into a new urban district here. How meinkreis.at reported, the redesign of the square has already been decided on by the local council. Construction is scheduled to start at the beginning of 2027, but important preliminary investigations still need to be carried out beforehand. First, soil and masonry investigations must be carried out, followed by demolition of the existing buildings. However, residents are concerned and are asking for information about the future development of their neighborhood.

The demolition itself could be an eyesore. The “Donaustadt House of Encounters Initiative” has already collected 427 of 500 signatures against the project. These critical voices question the necessity of demolition, especially since the city administration explains that high renovation costs and asbestos discoveries justify these drastic measures. So the question arises: Is demolition really the best solution?

A new urban district

What the new district, which will be created in the coming years, will look like has already been sketched out. A total of 300 residential units as well as a large library, an event hall, a crisis center for child and youth welfare, a pensioners' club and a pharmacy are planned. In addition, greenery and green zones should be integrated to give the new settlement a sustainable touch.

The oldest building on the square, the office building, is around fifty years old and is in a precarious condition. Here too, the city administration is planning a demolition to create space for a “climate-fit district”. The required facilities include not only housing, but also social and cultural facilities as well as a youth center that could be important for the local community. The district administration should also move into the new district.

Sustainability in focus

But while there is talk of demolition and new construction, there are also proposals to sustainably renovate the existing building. Some architects and citizens are wondering whether this renovation could be more cost-effective than a completely new building. A disadvantage, however, would be that the existing building would be retained for longer, which may not be desired in the planning.

Overall, the expectations of city residents are high. Given the projected growth of the urban population - 70% of the world's population could live in urban areas by 2050 - researchers emphasize the importance of sustainable urban development. The bpb emphasizes that the challenges in urban development vary globally and that a fair balance between current and future living conditions is necessary.

At the same time, critical voices can be heard that point out the social and ecological risks of urban development. It remains to be seen how the City of Vienna will finance and implement the plans. It is clear that demands on housing, culture and social infrastructure are increasing and the need to address these challenges sustainably is becoming all the more urgent.

For the Danube city, this means both an opportunity and a responsibility: the right balance between new construction and preservation must be found in order to create a livable environment for everyone.