Treasure Installation, entitled, Sustainability Begins With The Model (Nachhaltigkeit beginnt mit dem Modell), shown at the Nachhaltigkeitsforum 20-22 October 2023, Atelierhaus der Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien,[1]
The Platform CMT | Construction, Materials & Technology, Bachelors and Masters students exhibited with projects in and around the Vienna River. Concept models made from natural, found and recycled materials (Treasure).
[1] https://www.akbild.ac.at/en/university/Graduates/events/2023/sustainability-forum-in-vienna?set_language=en
RIVERRUN
Letting the Wienfluss out to play
COACH - PROFESSORSHIP AT THE ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS, VIENNA
Design Studio IKA Academy of fine Arts, Vienna
Bachelors Winter Semester 2023 / 24 - Michelle Howard and Eva Sommeregger
STUDENTS
Rüdigerhof Team
Madlen Suntinger, Paul Tschimmel, Prajna Manandhar, Aliki Peristeraki
Naschmarkt Team
Ruxandra Ursu, Sára Detrekői, Lieselotte Krammer, Luisa Locher
Karlsplatz Team
Valentyna Smahliuk, Emma Klarmann, Thuy-Justine Nguyen, Noah Löffler
Musikverein Team
Mika Gahlen, Tatiana Herreiner, Anna-Lena Helmer, Jakob Vranek
Stadtpark Team
Tim Netzband, Leon Keyl, Fabio Hutter, Maite Ilija Hernandez
The Vienna Earth is shovelled aside to make way for the construction of the inclined and vaulted water carrying system representing the Vienna River in scale 1:200. Photo: Fabio Hutter
The city of Vienna derives its name from the Wienfluss, or Vienna River, which originates in the Vienna forest to the west of the city and flows into the Danube Canal. During heavy rainfall and flooding, the river's capacity increases significantly, rising from its usual flow of 200 litres per second to a staggering 450,000 litres per second, owing to its extensive catchment area.
Originally an untamed watercourse, the Wienfluss once meandered freely within Vienna's boundaries. However, human intervention over time has reshaped its course. In the early 1900s, a flood protection system was constructed along the city's western border to mitigate flooding, while the river itself was regulated and constrained, its once broad expanse narrowed into a deep concrete channel. This transformation was driven by the need for inner-city development, including housing densification, expanded thoroughfares, and the introduction of Stadtbahn trains. Additionally, to reclaim more space within the city centre, a two-kilometre stretch of the river was entirely covered by a concrete vault.
Flood events, occurring approximately six times a year during the summer months, often go unnoticed by the general populace. This is because the river, now confined and channelled, flows either detached from the urban fabric or underground as it traverses the densely populated inner city.
Inspired by the Wiener Beschwerdechor, who sang the song written by Willie Landl called, “Wo is der Wienfluss?” [1] we asked
Where is the Vienna River hiding?
In Karlsplatz, its absence is biting.
Once intertwined, Vienna's heart and soul,
Now lost beneath concrete control.
Bring back the blue, the willows tall,
Let floodplains thrive, reclaim it all.
No more tunnels, no more divide,
Let the RIVERRUN outside!
[1] https://soundcloud.com/wienerbeschwerdechor-music/wo-ist-der-wienfluss
Looking ahead, a series of thoughtful interventions are planned for the covered section of the Vienna River, from Rüdigerhof to Stadtpark, aimed at raising awareness among residents about the river's presence, power, and ecological significance. These interventions include interactive installations that remain dormant until activated by flood events, signalling the river's presence within the city.
At Rüdigerhof, where the river disappears beneath the concrete vault, stands a striking 30-meter-high fountain designed by Madlen Suntinger. During floods, the fountain harnesses the increased water level and pressure to spray water into the surroundings. Nearby, Paul Tschimmel's fog catchers, a vast tensile structure, capture mist from the river, humidifying the air and creating a refreshing atmosphere. Beneath the fog catchers, Prajna Manandhar's market stalls and seating areas provide inviting spaces for people to gather. These areas are nestled among open waterways that crisscross an engineered ground, facilitating rainwater filtration, temperature regulation, and biodiversity growth.
Further underground, Aliki Peristeraki's subterranean labyrinth manages water flow and storage, minimizing evaporation and preserving water quality. This innovative system ensures that water resources can be recycled for various purposes, such as washing and cleaning, with minimal exposure to external contaminants.
In Ruxandra Ursu's vision for the Naschmarkt area, green spaces and waterways are integrated into the landscape, offering both aesthetic beauty and practical rainwater collection. At Kettenbrückengasse end near the former Marktamt, three additional stalls complement the design, enriching the market experience. To prioritize pedestrian accessibility, two-way car traffic is restricted to Rechte Wienzeile street, while Linke Wienzeile street becomes traffic-free, seamlessly merging with Naschmarkt and extending into the surrounding urban environment.
Sára Detrekői's innovative pedestrian bridge spans atop the historic market stalls, linking the Austrian Press Agency's rooftop in Alfred-Grünwald-Park to the southern perimeter block of Naschmarkt. This architectural feat enhances connectivity and urban mobility, with a network of ramps and bridges facilitating access throughout the market area. Meanwhile, Alfred-Grünwald-Park, renowned for preserving Vienna River alluvial soil, undergoes a transformative landscape sculpting by Liselotte Krammer, showcasing hills and ditches that unveil historical layers.
Luisa Locher introduces a sustainable water management system, utilizing a suspended network of pipes to differentiate between rainwater, greywater, and purified greywater. This system, extending from the north to the south facades, ensures efficient water usage for temperature control, contributing to environmental sustainability.
Valentyna Smahliuk's project invites people to explore the Vienna River's cooling underground spaces at the onset of Linke Wienzeile street. Emma Klarmann's park repurposes the former Friedrichstraße, linking cultural landmarks like the Secession building and liberating the Verkehrsamt building from its traffic island status. Justine Nguyen transforms Girardi Park into a vibrant wetland, fostering biodiversity and rainwater retention through interconnected ponds and water-permeable walkways.
Further enhancements include Noah Löffler's overgrown scaffolding, providing a unique flyover experience above the Karlsplatz junction and facilitating ventilation from underground passages. Mika Gahlen's refurbished tram rails act as pendulums, dynamically communicating the water levels of the river below with the city's surface.
Tatiana Herreiner's 'rain gardens' at Resselpark promote sustainable rainwater management, employing cascading retention ponds and wetland ecosystems for purification. Anna-Lena Helmer's intervention repurposes asphalt from street shrinkage, creating a symbolic gesture towards uncovering and reusing the Vienna River. Within this revitalized green zone, Jakob Vranek's interactive sculptures engage visitors by dynamically responding to the river's water levels, fostering awareness and connection to the urban ecosystem.
Tim Netzband's creation, "An Oasis of Biodiversity," sprawls across the former northern section of Lothringerstraße, now transformed into a tranquil haven. Wooden walkways meander through terraced beds of meticulously chosen plant species, inviting pedestrians to slow their pace and immerse themselves in nature's embrace.
Adding to the sensory experience, Leon Keyl's metal structures adorn the roof of the Akademisches Gymnasium, doubling as both rainwater collectors and providers of refreshing showers. Their presence creates a unique soundscape that enchants passersby, enhancing the atmosphere of the area.
Meanwhile, Fabio Hutter's visionary redesign of Beethoven Park introduces a harmonious blend of water and greenery. Rainwater collected from nearby buildings feeds into the park's landscape, forming gentle waterways that wind through the terrain. Even the concrete wall of the underground parking garage, facing the Vienna River, is repurposed into a lush microcosm, slowing the flow of water and facilitating its integration back into the river.
Further downstream, Maite Ilija Hernandez's pavilion stands as a beacon of innovation within Stadtpark's riverbed. This architectural marvel seamlessly combines rainwater collection and filtration, utilizing a bamboo structure suspended from the river banks to bridge the gap between land and water. It serves as both a functional space and a testament to the symbiotic relationship between urban development and ecological preservation.
Earth gathered by RIVERRUN students from both sides of the Vienna River, in a pile that follows the Vienna River at scale 1/200 from Rüdigerhof to Stadtpark, surrounded by different model experiments with earth, wax, formwork and water.