viennese areas of transformation
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Gaswerk Leopoldau / Neu Leopoldau (21. Bezirk) Siemensgründe – residential district Am Park (21st District) Former Siemens sites near the Siemensstraße S-Bahn subur- ban railway station; around 1,280 apartments built for approxi- mately 2,500 residents on a site of roughly 8.2 hectares with a 1.5-hectare park as its centrepiece. Success factors in the transformation • Large central park as an identity-defining element (Am Park) • Excellent public transport connections (suburban railway, tram, bus services) • Mixed-use neighbourhood: supermarkets, services, day-care centre • Granular plot assignment: multiple developers → mixed use + architectural diversity Contribution to area efficiency • Approx. 156 apartments/hectare → significant conversion gain compared to previous commercial stock • Infilling without additional land use, use of land already sealed
The examples illustrate how innovative spatial planning con- cepts on brownfield sites can lead to new residential areas that conserve space and resources. The result is sustainable living space where long-term use and excellent liveability take priority from the planning stage.
Gaswerk Leopoldau / Neu Leopoldau (21. Bezirk) Leopoldau Gasworks / Neu Leopoldau (21st District)
The former Leopoldau gasworks site is located in Vienna’s Twenty-First District, Floridsdorf, in the northern part of the city. The area has been reclassified and is now used for subsidised housing and commercial purposes.
Nordbahnhof railway station / Nordbahnviertel (2nd District)
Former gasworks – a classic brownfield site. This project in- volves around 1,255–1,400 new apartments including about a thousand subsidised apartments in development on an area of roughly 3.5 hectares from the total 42-hectare gas plant, plus an additional area of around 70,000 square metres of commercial area and plenty of open spaces. Success factors in the transformation • Existing identity-defining buildings (halls, workshops) repurposed (business, creative industry) • Mixed use at granular level: housing + commercial + social facilities • High proportion of open spaces: green courtyards, local squares, traffic-calmed neighbourhood • “Young living” and social mixing in a wide variety of subsidised community concepts
Former freight station; new neighbourhood with apartments, schools, and wide green spaces is in development on the site. A sub-area measuring 32 hectares entails around 5,000 apartments and 2,500 jobs by 2026. Success factors in the transformation • “Freie Mitte” as a large, continuous natural and recreational area – a flagship project in urban biodiversity • Versatility at the limits: mixed use (residential, commercial, educational) • Mobility concept: strong focus on walking, cycling, and public transport, low ratio of parking spaces • Neighbourhood management: active involvement of residents + Low conflict culture Contribution to area efficiency • Around 150 apartments/hectare in residential clusters • High rate of infill development in a downtown location → significant reduction in pressure on land use on the outskirts • The site alone provides for several thousand apartments, a significant contribution to Vienna’s new housing development.
H
owever, developing sites like these can be a complex undertaking due to
In general, brownfield sites in Austria form a strategically important field of action for project developers to combine economic develop- ment, social requirements, and environmental responsibility. Consistent reutilisation of these areas can make a lasting contribution to re- source-saving, liveable, and sustainable urban development.
previous use. Site contamination and complex ownership often cause concern, and legal or planning uncertainty may delay projects and increase costs. Even so, repurposing brownfield sites offers significant opportunities; this allows for new residential and commercial zones in locations that were already developed once, thus strengthening inner-city structures, short- ening traffic routes, and contributing to the ecological rehabilitation of contaminated sites. Successful examples from revitalised indus- trial areas in Vienna, Graz, and Linz to smaller industrial wastelands in the federal states illustrate the potential of such projects for cities and municipalities.
Contribution to area efficiency • Approx. 90–100 apartments/hectare → solid density despite listed buildings
• Refurbishment of heavily used industrial brownfield sites prevents reassignment of greenfield sites for develop- ment in the surrounding area. • Revitalisation of large area potential with existing trans- port connections (U1, S-Bahn suburban railway services)
Neu Leopoldau residential buildings
FIRST VIENNA RESIDENTIAL MARKET REPORT 2026
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