Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn
Factors affecting the property in 2005*
- Housing
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
High-rise building project to the east of the Gardens, in the visual axis from the Gloriette (of Schönbrunn) and the Vienna City Centre (especially the Cathedral St. Stephan).
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2005
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2005**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2005
East of the gardens of Schönbrunn, in the quarter of Meidling, a business centre is under development with an architectural contest initiated by the City of Vienna. The favoured design includes a high-rise building of 120m. According to the State Party’s report to the World Heritage Centre, the official decision on the final design is planned for autumn 2005.
The World Heritage Centre has furthermore been informed by individuals claiming that the high-rise building would have a major negative visual impact on the views from the Gloriette (a belvedere on the slope of Schönbrunn Garden) towards the historic city centre of Vienna, in particular its landmarks such as the Cathedral St. Stephan.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2005
29 COM 7B.73
Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn (Austria)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29.COM/7B.Rev,
2. Thanks the State Party of Austria for having provided updated information on the state of the planning process for the area of Meidling;
3. Noting with concern that another high-rise building project is likely to affect the World Heritage property in Vienna,
4. Encourages the State Party to improve specific legislation so as to ensure appropriate legal protection of the historic urban fabric and structure including its visual integrity;
5. Recalls the importance of taking into account the recommendations of the "Vienna Memorandum on World Heritage and Contemporary Architecture - Managing the Historic Urban Landscape" referred to in Decision 29 COM 5.3, adopted at its 29th session (Durban, 2005).
6. Urges the State Party to reconsider the height of this building project and to submit alternative solutions with no direct impact on the visual integrity of the property;
7. Requests the State Party to invite a joint UNESCO/ICOMOS mission to the property before the decision on the final project is taken;
8. Further requests the State Party to provide an updated report to the World Heritage Committee by 1 February 2006 for examination by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006).
Draft Decision: 29 COM 7B.73
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29.COM/7B.Rev,
2. Thanks the State Party for having provided updated information on the state of the planning process for the area of Meidling;
3. Noting with concern that another high-rise building project is likely to affect the World Heritage property in Vienna,
4. Encourages the State Party to improve specific legislation so as to ensure appropriate legal protection of the historic urban fabric and structure including its visual integrity;
5. Urges the State Party to reconsider the height of this building project and to submit alternative solutions with less impact on the visual integrity of the property;
6. Requests the State Party to invite a joint UNESCO/ICOMOS mission to the property before the decision on the final project is taken;
7. Further requests the State Party to provide an updated report to the World Heritage Committee by 1 February 2006 for examination by the Committee at its 30st session in 2006.
Austria
* :
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.
