The Danube Canal is an important lifeline in the densely built-up inner-city area of Vienna. But it could do even more to make the city fit for the future and climate-friendly. That is why the city has now decided to implement projects to improve the quality of life along the Danube Canal, starting with a pocket park.
Visualization of the planned pocket park on Vienna's Danube Canal. Rendering: Merlin Bartholomäus
Vienna’s Danube Canal is a popular leisure hotspot in the Austrian capital. Many bars and restaurants as well as sports and walking opportunities ensure many visits, especially in summer. The area is heavily used, but in future it should contribute even more to making the city fit for the future and climate-friendly. To this end, the City of Vienna has announced several projects, starting with a pocket park. This green mini-oasis is planned for the left bank of the Danube Canal and is intended to replace the aging Glashaus.
“We want to make the Danube Canal even more attractive and are therefore creating another green living room in the middle of the city with the new pocket park, in line with our motto ‘Get out of the asphalt’! And this is just the beginning of a series of further projects on the Danube Canal,” says Ulli Sima, the city councillor responsible for Vienna’s waterways. Alexander Nikolai, district leader of Leopoldstadt, emphasizes that the green mini-oasis will successfully continue the “Raus aus dem Asphalt” initiative.
The Glass House gives way to the Pocket Park Vienna
The new pocket park in Vienna is intended as a green living room on the Danube Canal. It will be located directly on the left bank of the Danube Canal on the Vilma Steindling promenade between Augartenbrücke and Salztorbrücke. With a total area of 140 m², it will offer space by the water for a picnic or a relaxing break from summer 2024. Unlike the many restaurants along the canal, there is no obligation to consume.
The park was planned by landscape architect Gerhard Rennhofer from Vienna on behalf of the city. His plans show that a large seating stone will form the visual boundary between the new green space and the promenade along the Danube Canal. A large tree and additional greenery will provide shade and cooling. This will create a better microclimate on this section of the Danube Canal. The quay wall will also be planted with climbing plants.
In order to build the Pocket Park Vienna, the glass house located on the planned site will have to go. Also known as the “Aquarium”, it dates back to 1998 and was used for a long time as an exhibition and event space for the Vienna Environmental Mile. Most recently, it was also used as a catering area. However, a structural survey has revealed considerable defects and signs of ageing on the glass elements and the floor structure. The glass house must therefore now be demolished.
In front of the glass house that is to make way for the pocket park: Gerald Loew, Head of Department of the City of Vienna - Vienna Waters, City Councillor Ulli Sima, District Head of Leopoldstadt Alexander Nikolai, Dominik Webel, Team Leader Danube Canal at MA 45 and WGM Managing Director Martin Jank, Copyright: City of Vienna/Christian Fürthner
Cooler green spaces on the Danube Canal
Pocket parks are a popular urban planning measure. The name can be translated as “pocket park”. It describes compact, formerly derelict or sealed areas in the city that are revitalized through planting. These mini-oases are particularly suitable for use in compact, dense inner-city areas. They have an individual character, offer advantages for climate protection and climate adaptation, and make use of existing structures. They are therefore also very cost-effective.
Further projects are planned for the Danube Canal in Vienna. The greening and upgrading measures are intended to give the banks a new look and make the city climate-ready. The city is particularly keen on cooling measures and more greenery in order to put a stop to the urban heat island effect.
To the right and left of the planned pocket park in Vienna are catering facilities. There are also areas for sport and leisure, characterized by park-like shoreline areas. One interesting project in this context is the Floating Gardens: the former Kaiserbad lock on the Danube Canal has been landscaped and transformed into a “chill area”. This reinforces the cooling air corridor along the canal, following the example of the Floating Gardens on the Seine in Paris.
The Floating Gardens in Vienna are one of the existing solutions for a more climate-friendly city on the Danube Canal, Credit: Wikicommons
Greening of the canal
The Vienna Danube Canal is 17 kilometers long and 50 meters wide. It flows through seven districts of the city. In the past, the canal was the only navigable arm of the Danube’s old branches. It was given its present appearance by the regulation of the Danube between 1870 and 1875 and flows back into the Danube near the port of Albern. The canal has a prominent location in Vienna’s city center and is easily accessible, making it an important link between Vienna’s districts.
Other natural shoreline areas along the Danube Canal include shady rows of buildings as well as meadow and reed zones. The natural embankment sections provide space for rare plants and protected animal species. In addition, the Danube Canal, which is primarily used for shipping, is also to be optimized as a migration corridor for fish. Artificial spawning structures for fish have been installed in the area where the Wien River flows into the Danube Canal.
The pocket park is due to open in summer 2024 and will further contribute to the greening of the Danube Canal. The City of Vienna will be announcing further projects soon.
Read more: Vienna is repeatedly voted one of the most liveable cities in the world. Click here for the city portrait.