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State of Conservation (SOC)

Historic Centre of Vienna (2004)

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds
International Assistance granted to the property

Requests Approved: 0
Total Amount Ap proved: 0USD

Missions**
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

Urban Pressure; Lack of management mechanism (including legislation).

Corrective Measures
Current conservation issues

Following the requests made by the World Heritage Committee at its 26th and 27thsessions to review the ‘Wien-Mitte’ project as to its height and visual impact on the World Heritage property, another urban design competition was launched by the City of Vienna to establish new architectural proposals complying with the request to reduce the building height at the site of ‘Wien-Mitte’.

 

In October 2003 the final project proposal was selected and presented to the public as well as to the Director of the World Heritage Centre during his visit to Vienna for the inscription ceremony of the property. The reduced height and volume of the overall project has been regarded as being compatible with World Heritage protection.

 

On 27 January 2004, the Austrian authorities submitted the progress report requested by the Committee, explaining the procedure adopted in order to renew the architectural competition. The revised project consists of a main building with a maximum height of 35 metres, and an oblong, slim building measuring 70 metres at its highest point. The Austrian authorities furthermore informed the Centre that the land-use designation process, based on the revised project, has been initiated and is to be concluded in late 2004.

 

ICOMOS has taken note of the progress report provided by the Chief Executive Office of the City of Vienna. It announced that it will to follow closely the future development of the ‘Wien-Mitte’ project as well as the general state of conservation of the World Heritage property.

Conclusion
Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

28COM15B.83
Link to the decision

The World Heritage Committee, 1. Thanking the Austrian authorities for their commitment to the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and the considerable efforts in finding a suitable solution in close collaboration with ICOMOS and the World Heritage Centre, 2. Acknowledges the establishment of a management plan for the Historic Centre of Vienna and notes the progress report provided on 27 January 2004; 3. Considers the positive outcome concerning the ‘Wien-Mitte’ project to be a notable success of the World Heritage Convention; 4. Requests the State Party to keep the World Heritage Centre informed of the development of the ‘Wien-Mitte’ project.

Draft Decision:  28 COM 15B.83

The World Heritage Committee,

1.     Thanking the Austrian authorities for their commitment to the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and the considerable efforts in finding a suitable solution in close collaboration with ICOMOS and the Centre, 

2.     Acknowledges the establishment of a management plan for the Historic Centre of Vienna and notes the progress report provided on 27 January 2004;

3.     Considers the positive outcome concerning the ‘Wien-Mitte’ project to be a notable success of the World Heritage Convention;

4.     Requests the State Party to keep the Centre informed of the development of the ‘Wien-Mitte’ project.

Historic Centre of Vienna
State Party:
Austria
Date of Inscription: 2001
Nomination records (Year): 2000
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (ii)(iv)(vi)
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports (year)
2011
2010
2009
2008
2004
Threats*
  • Housing
  • Other Threats:
Documents
WHC-04/28.COM/15B
Other Documents:
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
SOC ID: 1477

* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.