Last updated: November 2024
Biotope City Wienerberg is located in the southern part of Vienna on a 5.4-hectare site that once housed a Coca-Cola factory. It lies at the edge of the Wienerberg recreational area, surrounded by business parks and tower blocks to the west and predominantly detached houses to the east (Ref. 1). The project embodies the concept of an "urban biotope" (Ref. 2), grounded in the principle that nature's mechanisms of self-regeneration are essential for mitigating the challenges of urban living and climate change. By integrating urban and natural spaces, Biotope City fosters both human-nature connections and social interactions through activities like community gardening. The project’s centerpiece is its extensive green infrastructure, including trees and green roofs, which serve to cool the microclimate, purify the air, enhance water retention, and create carbon sinks while providing habitats for local wildlife. These green spaces aim to improve physical health through cooling effects on hot days and support mental well-being with their calming influence (Ref. 1; Ref. 2). Biotope City encompasses: Around 980 flats, including 400 subsidized flats and 200 SMART flats A school, a kindergarten, and 2,000 square meters of children's and youth playgrounds 600 square meters of community gardens and 3,850 square meters of ground-floor gardens 250 trees, 8,900 square meters of meadows, and 13,600 square meters of green roofs 2,200 square meters of façade greening The inner courtyards and roof areas are designed for gardening, while façades are greened, and balconies are equipped with integrated plant troughs. Even the spaces between buildings are climate-effective, featuring unsealed catchment and seepage areas to manage water sustainably (Ref. 1). The project’s implementation took 18 years and involved collaboration among various stakeholders. The concept was initiated by the Biotope City Foundation and funded by eight different investors (Ref. 2).
Green spaces between the buildings
Biotope City
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Community gardens and allotments
- Community gardens
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
- House gardens
- Nature on buildings (external)
- Green roofs
- Green walls or facades
- Balcony greens
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Improving mental health
- Improving physical health
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social justice and equity
- Social interaction
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- Urban flooding (stormwater)
- Heat stress & Extreme temperatures
- Degradation of carbon sinks
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Air pollution
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Unequal availability and access to public green spaces
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Physical health harm (from pollution, wildfire, extreme temperature)
- Mental health issues (stress, anxiety)
- Inadequate access to recreational opportunities
- Disconnection from nature
- Social fragmentation and isolation
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of green roofs and walls, Creation of areas for food production (community gardens, allotments), Creation of any other green urban spaces, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Post-industrial site regeneration, Strategy, plan or policy development, Creation of eco-district plans
Project objectives
Create an urban biotope that integrates nature and urban features in co-existence (Ref. 2)
Contribute to climate mitigation by creating carbon sinks through the implementation of green spaces (Ref. 2)
Contribute to climate adaptation by reducing the heat stress for flora and fauna and humans (Ref. 1; Ref. 2)
Fostering biodiversity by creating habitats via trees, shrubs and other plants (Ref. 1; Ref. 2)
Creation of accessible green spaces to the public through the integration of green areas into the building and neighbourhood design (Ref. 1; Ref. 2)
Intelligent rainwater management to prevent flooding (Ref. 1; Ref. 2)
Improve air quality for physical health through the sequestration of fine particulate matter by trees (Ref. 2)
Fostering physical and mental health by integrating nature with its positive effects on human well-being as a fundamental aspect of the neighbourhood's design (Ref. 2)
Promoting social interaction by creating spaces for recreation and providing spaces for communal gardening and activities (Ref. 2)
Implementation activities
The planning of the Biotope City on the former Coca Cola factory site started in 2015 and was followed by a research project throughout the complete planning phase (Ref. 6). To implement the design ideas by the Biotope City Foundation, an interdisciplinary team of planners, property developers, consultants and municipal departments drew up a detailed catalogue of qualities. Eight different property developers have developed, planned and realised the Biotope City Wienerberg (Ref. 7). In May 2017, the exhibition ‘Biotope City - The City as Nature’ took place at a municipality office in Favoriten, presenting the principles of Biotope City, initial results of the research project and plans for the future development. (Ref. 1) Construction started in 2017 and finished in 2021.
The project comprises several playgrounds and 600 sqm of community gardens, which provide opportunities for social interaction and community creation. 3,850 sqm of ground floor gardens, 289 trees and 8,900 sqm of meadows, 13,600 sqm of green roofs and 2,200 sqm of façade greening were implemented that all constitute green spaces for carbon and fine matter sequestration, cooling of the surrounding, habitat creation for wildlife and rainwater retention. The physical benefits to air quality and reduced local temperature support physical health and by providing accessible green space, the project offers space for recreation and relaxation for mental balance and well-being. (Ref. 2)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Increase urban vegetation cover to reduce urban heat island effect
- Implement green walls or roofs to lower indoor temperature and provide insulation
- Implement sustainable urban drainage schemes to manage stormwater
Climate change mitigation:
- Increase the availability of green urban space for carbon storage (street tree cover)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
- Other
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
- Private foundation/trust
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Taskforce groups
- Dissemination of information and education
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project began with a model developed by the Biotope City Foundation. The planning was carried out in a collaborative process, involving three architectural offices, planners from various disciplines, various municipal departments, the Foundation Biotope City, investors and representatives of the district. The project was financed by 8 different investors, most of them social housing corporations. The research project ‘Biotope City - building instructions for the green city of the future’ accompanied the planning and implementation process and was led by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna and companies involved in the planning process. The Caritas Vienna neighbourhood work team, which was commissioned by the property developers to manage the Biotope City neighbourhood, worked together with the research team to support the communication of the measures and develop a guide for residents. (Ref. 1; Ref. 2)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The basic compatibility of the project for the location was clarified following structural and technical framework conditions, already presented in urban development plans of the City of Vienna. Furthermore, the project area was rezoned from a "commercial area" to a "residential area" in order for the project to be in accordance with the spatial planning and purpose. (Ref. 1; Ref. 8))
Type of enablers
NGOs/Community groups driving the implementation, NBS research project (e.g., H2020, Urban Living Labs, national research projects)
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Corporate investment
- Insurance firms
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Lowered local temperature
- Achieved lowered local temperature
- Enhanced carbon sequestration
- Achieved enhanced carbon sequestration
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved stormwater management
- Achieved improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Achieved improved access to urban green space
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved mental health
- Achieved improved mental health
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
City of Vienna (n.d.). Biotope City Wienerberg. Accessed on September 11, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Fassbinder, H. (n.d.). A Biotope-City-Quartier for Vienna. Accessed on September 11, 2024, [Source link];
3.
greenpass (n.d.). Biotope City Wienerberg. Accessed on September 11, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Stadt der Zukunft (n.d.). Biotope City - Bauanleitung für die grüne Stadt der Zukunft. Accessed on September 11, 2024, [Source link];
5.
City of Vienna (n.d.). Favoriten in Zahlen. Accessed on September 11, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Gary, G. & Z+B Magazin (n.d.). Biotope City Wienerberg. Accessed on September 11, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Dr. Reinwald, F. & Ring, Z. (n.d.). Biotope City Wienerberg. Ein neuer Stadtteil für Wien mit einem neuen Leitbild.. Accessed on September 11, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Fassbinder, H. (n.d.). The example of Biotope City Wienerberg: The green city at the crossroad of disciplines, investors and authorities. Accessed on October 2, 2024, [Source link];
View of the roof over the different green features of the Biotope City
Biotope City
Biotope City Wienerberg
https://biotope-city.net/en/the-example-of-biotope-city-wienerberg-the-green-city-at-the-crossroad-of-disciplines-investors-and-authorities/
Biotope City Wienerberg
https://biotope-city.net/en/the-example-of-biotope-city-wienerberg-the-green-city-at-the-crossroad-of-disciplines-investors-and-authorities/
Biotope City Wienerberg
https://biotope-city.net/en/the-example-of-biotope-city-wienerberg-the-green-city-at-the-crossroad-of-disciplines-investors-and-authorities/
Biotope City Wienerberg
https://biotope-city.net/en/the-example-of-biotope-city-wienerberg-the-green-city-at-the-crossroad-of-disciplines-investors-and-authorities/
Biotope City Wienerberg
https://biotope-city.net/en/the-example-of-biotope-city-wienerberg-the-green-city-at-the-crossroad-of-disciplines-investors-and-authorities/
Biotope City Wienerberg
https://biotope-city.net/en/the-example-of-biotope-city-wienerberg-the-green-city-at-the-crossroad-of-disciplines-investors-and-authorities/
Biotope City Wienerberg
https://biotope-city.net/en/the-example-of-biotope-city-wienerberg-the-green-city-at-the-crossroad-of-disciplines-investors-and-authorities/
Biotope City Wienerberg
https://biotope-city.net/en/the-example-of-biotope-city-wienerberg-the-green-city-at-the-crossroad-of-disciplines-investors-and-authorities/
Biotope City Wienerberg
https://biotope-city.net/en/the-example-of-biotope-city-wienerberg-the-green-city-at-the-crossroad-of-disciplines-investors-and-authorities/
Biotope City Wienerberg
https://biotope-city.net/en/the-example-of-biotope-city-wienerberg-the-green-city-at-the-crossroad-of-disciplines-investors-and-authorities/
Biotope City Wienerberg
https://biotope-city.net/en/the-example-of-biotope-city-wienerberg-the-green-city-at-the-crossroad-of-disciplines-investors-and-authorities/
Biotope City Wienerberg
https://biotope-city.net/en/the-example-of-biotope-city-wienerberg-the-green-city-at-the-crossroad-of-disciplines-investors-and-authorities/
Biotope City Wienerberg
https://biotope-city.net/en/the-example-of-biotope-city-wienerberg-the-green-city-at-the-crossroad-of-disciplines-investors-and-authorities/
Biotope City Wienerberg
https://biotope-city.net/en/the-example-of-biotope-city-wienerberg-the-green-city-at-the-crossroad-of-disciplines-investors-and-authorities/
Biotope City Wienerberg
https://biotope-city.net/en/the-example-of-biotope-city-wienerberg-the-green-city-at-the-crossroad-of-disciplines-investors-and-authorities/
Biotope City Wienerberg
https://biotope-city.net/en/the-example-of-biotope-city-wienerberg-the-green-city-at-the-crossroad-of-disciplines-investors-and-authorities/
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.