Vienna remains at risk of UNESCO: Heumarkt project under criticism!
Vienna remains at risk of UNESCO: Heumarkt project under criticism!
Wien, Österreich - Vienna remains on the Red List for endangered UNESCO World Heritage. A draft decision that Meinverkirk is present shows clearly that the UNESCO sees the controversial project "Heumarktneu" as the main criticism. Vienna has been criticized since 2017 because of this urban development and has therefore not found a way out of the list. The city had already tried a deletion in 2022, which was not successful. As the Kurier , the hopes of being deleted in 2025 could not be realized.
The conflict around the hayarkt has turned out to be a central obstacle for the city. Project investor Michael Tojner has so far had no progress or redimation in the Heumarkt project. The UNESCO now calls for a revised draft based on four options. Among other things, these options provide for a reduction in the planned building in order to better fit into the historical cityscape.
The plans and challenges
The different variants of the Heumarkt project provide interesting approaches. One of them would, for example, request that the building be adjusted to the height of the surrounding Wilhelminian style houses. Another that would be cheap for the investor provides that the residential tower is lower than the existing Hotel Intercontinental. At the moment, however, each of the previous plans provides that the living tower will be higher than this hotel, which is critical of the UNESCO.
Vienna is not only on the Red List because of the Heumarkt project, but also on the basis of further urban planning projects. These include a planned hotel building in the Schwarzenbergpark and the construction of an underground museum at Belvedere Castle as well as the Rathaus and Frankthplatz underground stations. Thankfully, there is positive feedback from UNESCO and it only demands information about the project processes, in particular the environmental impact assessment (RRP) for the subway stations.
The cultural value of Vienna
The historical center of Vienna is not only an important urban development challenge, but also a cultural heritage that has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage since 2001. It includes an area of a total of 371 hectares and is a central hub in European history. Originally founded as a Roman legion camp, Vienna became a flourishing trade center over the centuries, especially under the rule of the Babenberger and Habsburg.
The architectural masterpieces such as St. St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Hofburg, which are significantly associated with the Habsburg dynasty, are particularly noteworthy. This history, which has grown over centuries, makes Vienna a cultural center that shines not only through its buildings, but also through important personalities of music and science. Composers such as Mozart, Beethoven and numerous others have put their stamps on Vienna.UNESCO now expects a current report from the city of Vienna to the state of the Heumarkt project by February 1, 2026 at the latest. An expert mission should then evaluate the situation. The political reactions in Vienna are shared; While the city government is praising progress in the other projects, opposition parties criticize the unresolved situation at Heumarkt and the long-term consequences for Vienna's status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The property developer Wertinvest sees the matter calmly and emphasized that a decision of the authorities is being waited.
The gap between the desire for urban development and the preservation of historical heritage remains exciting in Vienna. Whether and how the Heumarkt project will finally develop is unclear until further, but one thing is certain: the maintenance of the World Heritage Status has top priority for the city.
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| Ort | Wien, Österreich |
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