A green ray of hope: The new Christian-Broda-Platz in the 6th district

A green ray of hope: The new Christian-Broda-Platz in the 6th district

Christian-Broda-Platz in Vienna's 6th district will be transformed into a green oasis that is not only visually appealing, but is also intended to improve the city's climate. The remodeling work, which began in March this year, is now in its final phase. The newly designed areas with 1,300 square meters of green space and 35 new trees should be fully visible next spring. This initiative aims to transform the square into a “green entrance gate to Inner Mariahilfer Straße”.

The square, which is located at the traffic junction between Westbahnhof, Belt and Mariahilfer Straße, was previously characterized by a lot of asphalt and concrete, which severely impaired the quality of stay. Especially in the warm months, the barren areas gave little reason to spend time there. However, with the planned greening, the picture will change significantly. Responsible politicians even pitched in to plant the six particularly large trees that are part of the new concept.

Challenges posed by the subway and underground car parks

The redesign of Christian-Broda-Platz brings with it various challenges. The square is located above an underground car park and several subway shafts, which makes it difficult to create green spaces. Nevertheless, the planners managed to include generous green spaces. The existing seven trees will be retained, and the new climbing plants on the ventilation structures will not only brighten up the image, but also make an additional contribution to the greenery. Additionally, automatic irrigation systems have been installed to support the young greenery.

Water features with water mist and jets as well as two additional drinking fountains were also planned as part of the new design. These additional offers should not only add to the attractiveness of the course, but also provide cooling on hot days, which will be particularly appreciated in the summer months.

Focus on cyclists and sustainability

Another aspect of the redesign is to improve safety and comfort for cyclists. Wide, structurally separated cycle paths at the Belt-Mariahilfer Straße intersection will be completed in 2024, representing a big step towards a more bicycle-friendly city. But that's not all: for the first time in Vienna, wooden traffic signs are being erected in order to reduce the ecological footprint of traffic management.

Planning councilor Ulli Sima from the SPÖ emphasizes that this project is not just a nice reworking of an existing area, but also makes a valuable contribution to the quality of life in the city as part of the “Out of the Asphalt” initiative. District leader Markus Rumelhart praised the patience of the residents during the construction work and emphasized that the result will improve the quality of life for all citizens. Topics such as modern architecture and green spaces should come into greater focus and show how cities can respond to the challenges of climate change.

The upcoming changes to Christian-Broda-Platz will be a further step towards a greener and more livable city. The anticipation of the new design is great, while next year the Viennese will see how their cityscape will simultaneously change and become more pleasant. More details on this topic can be found in a detailed report on wien.orf.at.