With projects such as the BOKU Biotech Centre and the development of the former abattoir premises of St. Marx, Wiener Stadtentwicklungsgesellschaft m.b.H. (WSE) is making a significant contribution towards strengthening Vienna as a business location. What is the purpose of WSE, and what role does it play in the City of Vienna?
Monika Freiberger: As a subsidiary of Wien Holding, Wiener Stadtentwicklungsgesellschaft is responsible for the implementation and administration of comprehensive and sustainable urban development projects in Vienna. We consider ourselves to be an initiator and central contact point in this area. We place great value on new ideas, new ways of cooperating with private investors, and new ways of thinking in urban development. With this in mind, I also carry out my role as general coordinator for the St. Marx area, which I took on in mid 2008.
A new district for economy, science and media is emerging on the St. Marx premises. What exactly is happening in the urban development area of St. Marx?
Monika Freiberger: With St. Marx, we have a very exciting area on our hands. It is one of Vienna’s largest intra-urban development areas. On one of its sides, Campus Vienna Biocenter (VBC) is located, which has already established itself at the international level and which we are currently expanding together with our partner, S+B Gruppe. A landmark beside it is the T-Center. And two of the heritage-protected buildings house the Media Quarter Marx, which successfully operates the film studios on the premises. There is plenty of space beside it that is currently being developed. The goal is to create a central location for the fields of life sciences, media/creative and technology by 2015. If all goes as planned, up to 15,000 people are going to work in St. Marx in the future.
Vienna is becoming a biotech stronghold. Recently, the new Vienna Institute of Bio Technology (VIBT) was opened. What significance does this competence centre have for Vienna as a research location?
Josef Herwei: VIBT plays a fundamental role for Vienna as a biotech location. As the Glamas Consortium, together with our project partners BAI, Porr and Vienna Insurance Group, we have not only created new space for the scientists at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences at the Muthgasse location, but also space for spin-off and start-up companies in this discipline.
Is the biotechnology project in Vienna’s Döbling district finalized with the opening of VIBT, or are there further plans?
Josef Herwei: The Glamas Consortium and WSE still have additional land at their disposal at the Muthgasse location. We are aware of the great potential of this area and, should the need arise in the future, are prepared to build additional facilities for users from the university and economic sectors.
WSE also deals with the development of plans for the re-use of vacant hospitals and health care facilities. The premises of the geriatric centre Am Wienerwald in Lainz are slated for future use as a residential location. Can you disclose a few details about this project?
Josef Herwei: We named the project “Park City Hietzing”, because this name already conveys many of the advantages of this location. The area has very generous green spaces, is located right next to the Lainzer Tiergarten wildlife preserve and yet close enough to the city via its public transport connection. Our task is to create a concept for re-use on behalf of the Vienna Hospital Association (KAV – Wiener Krankenanstaltenverbund). We have already conducted a public involvement process as well as an urbanistic architectural competition in coordination with the Federal Historic Preservation Office.
Is “Park City Hietzing” the only project of its kind, or will further facilities of the KAV follow in the future?
Josef Herwei: WSE is also currently working on re-use concepts for the Preyer’s Children’s Hospital in Vienna’s Favoriten district as well as the SMZ Floridsdorf Hospital. For the premises of the Preyer’s Children’s Hospital, we launched a competition for urban development ideas in November of 2009. These facilities, as well as those of SMZ Floridsdorf, primarily suggest residential use. |
