19 new trees and around 4,000 m2 unsealed through greening and permeable paving
Vienna (OTS) – Get off the asphalt! The climate-friendly transformation of the city is in full swing – including in Simmering. In 2022, a comfortable two-way cycle path was built in the side lane on Etrichstrasse between Kaiser-Ebersdorfer-Strasse and Singergasse in order to expand the cycling infrastructure in the district and promote environmentally friendly transport. Now the Grätzl has been further upgraded: Since October 2023, the forecourt on Etrichstrasse and Svetelskystrasse between Am Hofgartel and Mühlsangergasse have been extensively redesigned. 19 new trees and around 4,000 square meters of unsealed area now ensure a pleasant microclimate here.
“Get off the asphalt – our motto is finding its way throughout the city and I’m pleased that a lot is happening in Simmering too. Unsealing, greening and cooling – this is how we work together to create climate-friendly streets and squares with new trees, like here at Svetelsky Square, which was really very successful,” said planning councilor Ulli Sima during her visit to the redesigned square.
District head Thomas Steinhart is also pleased about the successful redesign: “The forecourt on Svetelskystrasse was a central heat hotspot in Simmering. In March 2023, the Simmering district council unanimously decided to unseal the square, green it up and comprehensively redesign it. This sent a clear signal against climate change and its effects. I am very pleased that the redesign measures have now been completed and will now offer a better quality of life for the residents of this neighborhood,” said Simmering district leader Thomas Steinhart.
Better microclimate in the Grätzl
Everyone in Grätzl should benefit from more greenery in the street space, more space for pedestrians and a higher quality of stay. Until now, the area at the intersection of Svetelskystrasse and Etrichstrasse was characterized by a lot of asphalt and was considered a heat hot spot. That has now fundamentally changed: The existing tree locations have been combined to form spacious green areas in order to create space for rainwater to seep away and to improve the growing conditions of the plants. The new plantings and enlarged green areas will significantly improve the microclimate of the forecourt and contribute to cooling and increasing the quality of stay, especially in the warmer seasons. All newly created green areas are provided with perennial planting and automatic irrigation. The street lighting was also adjusted. Consumption-free seating has been installed along the new green areas and will in future invite you to linger and chat.
Water provides refreshment and fun
On the Svetelskystrasse side, a water table was set up centrally in the lounge area. Water features with floor nozzles were also installed on the forecourt. These water elements provide additional cooling and fun during the hot summer months. The existing drinking hydrant was retained and continues to provide fresh spring water. An additional drinking hydrant was installed near the tram stop.
The formerly asphalted area was unsealed and provided with light-colored paving made of cast stone in an unbound construction method. This paving allows rainwater to seep away. This helps to relieve the pressure on the sewage system, especially during heavy rainfall, and leads to an additional reduction in temperature through evaporation. A total of around 4,000 square meters of surface were unsealed through expanded green areas and permeable paving. Only the area of the fire department access along the house facade remains in asphalt construction.
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Questions & Contact:
Can Guven
Media spokesman StRin Ulli Sima
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