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Monument in danger: Ternitz diving tower on the brink of extinction!
Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus: Dispute over diving tower in the Ternitz Parkbad – preservation or demolition? Experts and citizens' initiatives are calling for protection.
Monument in danger: Ternitz diving tower on the brink of extinction!
In Ternitz, an architectural heritage is at risk. The impressive 10-meter diving tower designed by Roland Rainer - one of Austria's most famous architects, who is also responsible for the Wiener Stadthalle and the ORF center - is soon in danger of falling victim to the demolition hammer. On November 10th, the municipality of Ternitz plans to make a decision about the demolition of the diving tower and the swimming pool. This project is causing major concerns among architects and those interested in culture.
If the city's plans go according to plans, the diving tower, which has been closed since 2020 due to serious damage, could be demolished for 115,000 euros. This could potentially save €50,000 a year in operating costs. However, SPÖ Vice Mayor Peter Spicker points out that the steel reinforcement of the tower is visible in some places, which indicates the urgency of renovation measures. A total renovation would cost 3.2 million euros - a sum that does not seem affordable for the city.
The resistance is growing
More than 80 architects and institutions, including the Austrian Architecture Foundation and the Monument Protection Initiative, are committed to preserving the diving tower. You have in mind a “partial protection” that would at least offer the pool a certain level of protection in terms of monument preservation. But the Federal Monuments Office expresses concerns: what Rainer once designed could lose any sufficient monument significance through serious modifications to the original structure. A fine line between preservation and triviality.
The initiative to save the diving tower also receives support from citizens, who see the tower not only as a swimming facility, but also as part of their cultural landscape. The outdoor swimming pool, which was also designed by Rainer, is considered an important work of architecture.
A look into the future
The city of Ternitz already has new plans for the use of the site. Instead of rehabilitating the iconic diving tower, modern attractions such as a padel court are to be built in the park. This change in perspective shows that not everyone in the city has the same appreciation for history and architecture.
The coming decisions could determine not only the fate of a building, but also the cultural memory of a city in which historical structures are closely interwoven with people's identities. The signs point to resistance - and the coming days will show whether it will be possible to preserve the architectural heritage or whether modernization will be given priority. It remains exciting in Ternitz!