Demolition or renovation? Future of Schrödingerplatz in danger!

Demolition or renovation? Future of Schrödingerplatz in danger!

Am Schrödingerplatz in the Donaustadt could soon roll up the excavators. Because here the city administration is planning a comprehensive renovation into a new city district. As meindezirk.at has already been decided in the municipal council. Construction is scheduled for early 2027, but there are still important preliminary examinations. First of all, the substrate and masonry examinations must be carried out, followed by a demolition of the existing buildings. However, residents are concerned and questions about information about the future development of their neighborhood.

A thorn in the eye could be the demolition itself. The "Initiative House of the Donaustadt encounter" has already collected 427 out of 500 signatures against the project. These critical voices question the need for demolition, especially since the city administration explains, high renovation costs and asbestos finds justified these drastic measures. So the question arises: is the demolition really the best solution?

a new city district

What the new quarters should look like in the coming years has already been outlined. A total of 300 residential units as well as a large library, an event hall, a crisis center for child and youth welfare, a pensioner club and a pharmacy are planned. In addition, greening and green zones are to be integrated in order to give the new settlement a sustainable note.

The oldest building on the square, the office building, is about fifty years old and in a questionable condition. Here, too, the city administration plans a demolition to create space for a "climate -like district". The required institutions include not only living space, but also social and cultural institutions as well as a youth center that could be important for the local community. The district head should also move into the new district.

sustainability in focus

While the demolition and new building is in the room, there are also suggestions to renovate the existing building sustainably. Some architects and citizens wonder whether this renovation could not be cheaper than a complete new building. One disadvantage, however, would be that the existing building would remain longer, which may not be desired in the planning.

Overall, the expectations of the city dwellers are high. In view of the forecast growth of the city population - 70% of the world's population could live in urban areas by 2050 - researchers emphasize the importance of sustainable urban development. The bpb underlines that the challenges in urban development are globally different and that a fair compensation between present and future living conditions is necessary.

At the same time, critical voices can be heard that indicate the social and ecological risks of urban development. It remains to be seen how the city of Vienna will shape the financing and implementation of the plans. It is clear that the demands on living space, culture and social infrastructure increase and the need to tackle these challenges sustainably, the more pressing.

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