Historic Centre of Vienna
Factors affecting the property in 2004*
- Housing
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Urban Pressure; Lack of management mechanism (including legislation).
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2004
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2004**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2004
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.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2004
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 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.
Austria
Exports
* :
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.
