Atelier Starzak Strebicki

An urban concept for a new mixed function quarter 

The urban development project for the Stadthalle area creates a new hybrid quarter with a balanced mix of different functions. It offers a pleasant environment for culture, leisure, entertainment and living. The nearby Danube meadows, as well as the riverside zones and reused heritage listed architecture give this new district a unique character and a strong identity. A balanced mix of different cultural, commercial and public functions will be created here - these spaces provide attractive facilities for children, young people and elderly users.

The new quarter becomes a friendly and elegant extension of the town. Its urban structure uses the former buildings of the town hall, auction hall and bull stables as space-defining elements. These buildings form the core of the area. Due to their central location, new buildings can be placed opposite them, making direct reference to the existing structures and that way connecting the old with the new. Thanks to a variety of typologies, the users are offered high quality architecture which exists in harmony with the context of the area. The concept is completed by a new hotel with terraces facing the river and a market. The spatial layout of the site and ground floor zones allows easy and barrier-free access to all ground-level functions. By linking the interiors of the buildings with the open spaces, a lively connection between the indoor and outdoor zones is created.

A network of friendly-scaled public spaces is created to facilitate everyday life and needs of users. The quarter is not only filled with open spaces but is also linked to various green and recreational areas in which zones of use alternate. These zones are meandering spatial sequences that change from square to square, each developing its own character. Car traffic is kept to a minimum throughout the entire area, with exclusion for service vehicles and users with disabilities. To ensure the required number of parking spaces, two underground garages are available. There is a wide and comfortable pedestrian and cycle path along the river, which is connected to the Danube cycle route extending further along. The buildings are heated and cooled by solar collectors and a thermal energy storage system. Orientation and staggered building heights allow optimal use of sunlight.