Prague delegation visits Vienna Supergrätzl neighbourhood

The Vienna Supergrätzl neighbourhood meets the challenges of the climate crisis at the neighbourhood level and brings more green spaces, traffic safety and recreation space. An eight-member delegation from Prague, consisting of members of the district council, the district representatives and employees of the municipal district office of the first Prague district, visited Vienna on 21 September 2023 to learn more about the Supergrätzl neighbourhood from the Viennese experts.

Cities around the world are facing similar problems. The urban population is growing, while rising and record temperatures bring new challenges. Vienna is also affected by the tangible impacts of climate change. To address this crisis, forward-looking urban planning projects are needed that reach all the way down to the district level. This is precisely why the Vienna Supergrätzl neighbourhood was established.

Starting off the expert exchange, employees of the City of Vienna and the collaborating employees of Landscape Architecture and Urban Transformation studio presented the project Supergrätzl Favoriten. The project started in 2021 with the aim of creating urban cells in the city area that contribute to a more liveable and sustainable design of the street space, by introducing traffic-calmed cores and other measures.

Innovative approach for a liveable Vienna

The pilot project Supergrätzl neighbourhood aims to improve the residents' quality of life. The focus is therefore on the residents. The atmosphere created supports the residents' bond with their neighbourhood and the district. The area is densely populated and needs additional open spaces in the immediate vicinity of the residents. In addition, the neighbourhood is under high heat exposure and requires cooling measures. Inspired by the superblocks in Barcelona, the focus is on greening, creating more open spaces and traffic reduction. Improving traffic safety is also of great importance, as several educational institutions such as the Herzgasse secondary school and several kindergartens are located in the area.

After various planning and participation measures, the first planning and construction phase is now about to begin. The City of Prague is also currently in the planning phase for new projects. Therefore, the delegation was particularly interested in the citizens’ participation in the planning process, the perception of local residents and the selection criteria of the project area, as well as the effects of the site transformation for the inhabitants.

Afterwards, during a walk through the neighbourhood, the delegation was able to see the installed diagonal filters. These filters divert motorised traffic into two one-way lanes at an intersection, while still allowing pedestrians and cyclist to pass through. Further questions about the implementation were discussed.

The City of Vienna offered the Prague delegation further support in the preparation for planned projects. The delegation members saw the exchange as the beginning of a long-term cooperation and plan to invite the experts from Vienna to Prague as well.