Greener future: Hippviertel gets new shine and more quality of life!

Greener future: Hippviertel gets new shine and more quality of life!

In Ottakring, the redesign of the Hippviertel received its official starting signal on June 10, 2025. The project, which is based on a citizen survey, is intended to significantly improve the quality of life in this typical residential district with dense development. In the coming months, around 1,300 square meters will be unsealed to create space for green spaces and to plant 27 new trees. The first work has already begun after the residents' wishes were submitted and they were able to actively participate in the planning. This form of citizen participation is essential to promote the basic consensus for ambitious climate policy, as the [Rifs Potsdam](https://www.rifs-potsdam.de/de/ Results/publikationen/2020/buerger participation-der-klimapolitik-erlebnisen-borne-und) states.

The redesign provides for a comprehensive unsealing of the three most important traffic axes: Brunnengasse, Menzelgasse and Hippgasse. The focus is particularly on Brunnengasse, which will be converted into a pedestrian zone. This will be equipped with new paving stones, spacious green areas, seating and a water feature. Menzelgasse and Hippgasse will also be supplemented with new trees, green spaces, benches and drinking fountains. Climate City Councilor Jürgen Czernohorszky emphasizes the social component: “We want to create more opportunities to stay and promote social exchange,” he explains.

A look outside the box

The redesign of the Hippviertel is in the context of urban climate adaptation. It is important to consider not only aesthetic aspects, but also the city's resilience to the consequences of climate change. The city of Linz has set itself the goal of becoming climate neutral by 2040 and has developed a comprehensive adaptation concept for this purpose. According to Alles Linz, the quality of life should be maintained despite the challenges of global warming.

In Linz, where the average temperature has risen by over 2°C since pre-industrial times, the need for climate adaptation measures is becoming increasingly urgent. The challenges include more hot days, waterlogging and extreme rainfall. The adaptation concept includes the development of measures in a total of 15 fields of action, including construction, health and urban planning. Workshops in which citizens and stakeholders were involved supported the development of the concept and established a clear connection to successful citizen participation in Ottakring.

A common goal

The central goals of these initiatives are to improve the quality of stay and the climate-ecological compensation function in urban areas. In addition to the current redesign in the Hippviertel, the importance of citizen participation is also being emphasized in Linz. Transparent and convincing communication is crucial in order to do justice to diverse interests and to develop viable solutions together. This shows that the participation of citizens is not only a duty, but also an asset for the quality of life in urban areas. With its initiative, Ottakring is steering towards a greener and more livable future.