Vienna's largest heat island - the Naschmarkt parking lot is to become a blooming oasis
Copyright: Mostlikely Architecture/DnD Landscape Planning
The flea market will remain and the Naschmarkt will have a new market space for regional producers.
Sea of flowers instead of asphalt desert
Vienna's largest inner-city heat island is about to undergo a major transformation! In future, the 12,000 m2 parking lot between the Wienzeilen will become an attractive, open-use space with plenty of greenery and cooling.
Unsealing is the motto
There will be no construction on the current parking lot area, but rather large-scale unsealing and the creation of a generous inner-city green oasis, including the preservation of the popular flea market.
Based on the results of public participation, numerous basic studies, a Europe-wide ideas competition and the master plan resulting from a subsequent planning process, the city has now presented the winning project of the international realization competition, which was selected by an independent jury.
It comes from the planning office D\D Landschaftsplanung of the renowned landscape planner Sabine Dessovic, who, together with the Austrian architectural office "Mostlikely" of the architect Mark Neuner, submitted a modern and promising project with the resounding title "Blühender Naschmarkt". The planners consulted external expertise during the development process: Thomas de Martin (Bureau de Martin) was able to contribute his knowledge of modern market activities.
Vision of the market of the future: shared experience
In their design considerations, the project winners dealt very intensively with the question of what a market should be able to do in the future. A market is therefore much more than the sale of cucumbers & co., its function goes far beyond the supply mandate.
Architect Mark Neuner: "Our contribution "Blühender Naschmarkt" focuses on innovation and the transfer of knowledge about food quality. The focus is on strengthening local production: agriculture and the lively scene of producers in Vienna. The social character is reinforced through exchange and educational opportunities. One vision is that in future every schoolchild in Vienna will go on an excursion to the Naschmarkt to learn about the origin and preparation of food from the field to the plate."
The winning concept also includes an open market kitchen, which is ideal for cooking courses, for example, and a separate market bar that invites market visitors to share a tasty experience.
The master plan also formulated clear ideas in this regard and recommended very high standards for the allocation of permanent retail space. There should be a clear focus on products from the company's own production and topics such as sustainability, regionality and short delivery routes should be at the heart of the considerations. According to the master plan, the important social aspect of such a market as a place of encounter and enjoyment should also be emphasized. The new market space meets all of these requirements.
Work to start in 2024
The detailed planning of the comprehensive project now follows. Work on the comprehensive transformation of the previous heat hotspot is due to start in fall 2024.
