Architecture

Competition – Donauversum

Competition, 1st prize

Location: Donauinsel, Vienna
Principal use: leisure time, co-working, sports- and cultural facilities
Total floor area: 18000m2
Year: 2021 – Ongoing

Design team Mostlikely Architecture: Mark Neuner, Marlene Lötsch, Christian Höhl, Felix Redmann, Alexander Fischer, Irina Nalis

Common Space Team: Quirin Krumbholz (sqk), Gregorio Lubroth (Tzou Lubroth Architekten), Wiener Basketballverein, Marlies Stohl

Donauversum generates a new kind of public space for body, mind and soul in a lush natural landscape, closely connected to the river. Due to its central location on the Danube Island and its great connection to the public transportation network, Donauversum will serve as a new centre for the island and as an important public leisure area for the whole city. The program of Donauversum puts a focus on free offers to inspire individual appropriation and spontaneous use. In this new kind of public space, with its inviting, open platforms that are made of robust materials and are accessible throughout the year, the program will be ever-changing through its visitors.

Visualisation of the Promenade

Urban rituals
A barrier-free welcome on the riverside promenade: the new main axis along the Danube shore invites visitors to stroll, relax and meet. Rolling, green landscapes with lush perennial gardens replace the formerly concrete-dominated levels. Several new horizontal and vertical connections through ramps and a new elevator next to the subway create a fluent movement and barrier free access to the promenade and the three main zones. A consistent aesthetic language with light shed roofs, pergolas and natural timber constructions stands for lightness, offers orientation, comfort and creates identity.

model of the Donauversum

Surrounding open platforms like tree houses, open sports fields or a stretched co-working table ensure a wide range of consumption-free and free to access spaces and infrastructures. These platforms can also expand beyond Donauversum and generate a network of manifold functions on the whole Danube Island.
A new spacious waterfront promenade for walking, strolling, relaxing and gathering functions as the main spine along the Danube shore.Rolling, green landscapes with year-round grasses replace the formerly concrete dominated stepped levels. Several new horizontal and vertical connections through ramps and a new lift next to the subway create a fluent movement and barrier free access to the promenade and the three main activity areas.
The paths for cyclists and pedestrians are detangled where necessary. This ensures an untroubled transit for cyclists and a higher comfort of dwelling for visitors.

Visualisation of the Sport Hub and Co-Working Cafe

The new Donauversum invites all people in Vienna to exercise close to the river in the Future Fitness Landscape “Body” that expands close to the metro station. The Sports Hub with a flying roof and multifunctional sports fields can host open trainings, events and tournaments.
In the adjacent area the „Mind“ is put into focus: A serviced Co-Working Hub, expanded consumption free terraces, a stretched co-working table and year-round rentable co-working cabins offer well equipped infrastructure for working, exchanging and networking, embedded in a natural landscape.

Site Plan

The program of Donauversum puts a focus on free offers to inspire individual appropriation and spontaneous use. In this new kind of public space, with its inviting, open platforms that are made of robust materials and are accessible throughout the year, the program will be ever-changing – As users start to appropriate the space and get active themselves: With fervid dance battles, sunrise yoga sessions, open-air work-meetings, intense jam sessions or joyful sunbathing.

Cultural Kiosk
Visualisation of the bathing area
Promenade and Park-Working facilities

In spring 2024, a 100m2 culture kiosk will be built as a new meeting point: with a generous shed roof and spacious terraces overlooking the New Danube.
Public sun decks, wooden platforms and large seating steps are embedded in lush green hills. Improved water access, public showers and lockers as well as cantilevering lying nets surround the Kulturkiosk and serve as an attraction for swimmers and sunbathers.
Elevated Co-Working and picnic tables are shaded by wooden pergolas – overlooking the new spacious promenade.