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In a bustling urban district mere metres away from the 60-storey DC Tower, an underutilized piece of riverfront property in the Austrian capital of Vienna is poised to undergo a substantial reinvigoration. An international design competition for the Copa Cagrana plot seeks to meld new mid-rise buildings with public spaces, and a submission by London's AZPML and local firm SHARE Architects looks to accomplish that objective.
The proposal aims to mitigate the wind and flood risks that have traditionally prevented development this close to the water's edge. A planned riverfront promenade forgoes street furniture that could easily be washed out into the New Danube, but includes paving designed to withstand flooding. A reinforced concrete structure shielded in glass combined with a series of raised platforms accessible by ramps, stairways, and mechanical means negotiates the retail portion of the site. Above this, a wall of evergreen trees would be planted to reduce wind speeds, retain rainwater and humidify the air.
Leisure and recreational activities that complementary existing nearby facilities could be provided. These may include public toilets, dressing rooms, fitness areas, hammocks, rowing boat rentals, ice skating, playgrounds, and other amenities.
Further into the site and adjacent to a cluster of existing structures, multiple towers are planned to give the area a density boost. The four towers would not boast a significant height or footprint, but would add to an already compact group of buildings in the neighbourhood. Likely to be residential, they would include retail at their base, helping create a network of pedestrianized high streets. The site has proven to be the perfect candidate for intensification. Not only does its natural setting attract Viennese and tourists alike, its proximity to the city's venerable U-Bahn system through Donauinsel station ensures easy accessibility to and from this emerging hub.
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