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In the course of construction activities the Zimmermannplatz
in the 9th district of Vienna will be refashioned. A fountain
object designed by invited artists is to be erected there.
To this aim, there has been a call for participation in a
limited competition.
This square is characterized by a public green space directly
adjacent to the busy street
space. It is located between the Meynertgasse and the Zimmermanngasse
and is divided by the Lazarettgasse, which shortly afterwards
meets the Währinger Gürtel [beltway]. In the square’s
southern area the new constructions of a research institute
of the St. Anna-Kinderspital [pediatric hospital] and an
underground car park are in the making while the northern
part remains unchanged as an open square. From the southern
access area the latter can be looked upon in its entirety.
The proposal to construct a special object designed by
artists, which was formulated by different protagonists involved
in
the planning process, has become the limited competition’s
subject. For the pedestrians’ benefit the Zimmermannplatz
is to be outlined in a stronger spatial unity. The traffic
concept
provides for the construction of several traffic islands and
cross-walks, which shall facilitate in a substantial manner
to cross the square afoot in all of its areas.
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In
order to slow down the car traffic the roadway widths will
be reduced on the one hand, and, on the other, the Lazarettgasse
and the Hebragasse will be slightly deviated at the crossroads.
In the northern part of the square the local road will be
given
up in favor of a more generous spatial solution and
integrated into the redevelopment. Thus the available green
space will be enlarged considerably and structured into three
zones: i.e. central square, children’s playground and
green rest area. Moreover, the central square in the northern
part will be the site of the object designed by the artists.
In addition, this object shall provide for water.
The idea for this was formulated in the course of a participation
procedure, as several participants proposed to integrate
the element of water into the design of the square. Water
that appears on the surface would also be a historical reference
to the Alserbach, which flows underground along the Lazarettgasse
and Alserbachstraße and heads for the Donaukanal [Danube
Canal]. It was arched over in the 19th century. Yet for the
art object the use of water won’t be the sole determining
factor but only one possible design aspect. bk
transl. ol |
