Completion of construction phase 1.

In autumn 2018, the first construction phase of the Copa Cagrana was made accessible to the residents. The other phases are already being planned and should be completed by 2019/2020.

The project Copa Cagrana in Vienna pursues the idea of a docking station of urban divesity.

The construction of Danube Island which, with a length of over 20 kilometres, is both a flood prevention measure and leisure area is one of Vienna’s most sustainable achievements. Located at the point where the inhabitants of the heavily-populated residential districts of “Transdanubia” (‘across the Danube’) meet the people of Central Vienna as they search for opportunities to relax, Copa Cagrana has become a key symbol of the cultural self-image of the city in an age in which society is ever more diverse. The island is an interface, an expression of an urban culture formed by a range of social milieus, ethnicities and ideologies.

A docking station for urban diversity

The project pursues the idea of a docking station that brings together all layers of society. In architectural terms this is interpreted as a functional infrastructure. The differential zoning into specific areas for permanent and temporary uses creates a structured surface on which objects or buildings with varying requirements can be positioned. The extension of the modern residential and office complex to the water’s edge and the accessible intertwining of consumption-free zones and low-level service facilities establish a platform on which different lives and lifestyles can come together.

Flowing zones

The zoning of Copa Gagrana between the city and the water is based on the behaviour and expectations of city users while also meeting flood prevention requirements. This division is threefold: Zone C envisages minimal development involving public buildings and special residential forms (such as student accommodation). This use ensures a smooth transition between the riverbank and Donaucity. Fabela Promenade is reinforced to become the key circulation route in the direction of Donaucity, ending in Zone B where it opens out onto the Plaza. This zone includes the main upper circulation axis which includes the Plaza, the cycle path and the delivery areas that serve such permanent establishments as the year-round restaurants and cycle hire facility. The raised position offers protection against flooding while the uninterrupted view of the riverbank is an ideal precondition for a high-quality restaurant. This area is designed as a green zone with a large number of trees that are concentrated around the Plaza and form an alley along the cycle path. The riverbank – Zone A – is Copa Cagrana’s bathing area. The riverside lawns, changing rooms and sanitary facilities are integrated into the topography. A generous beach bar is planned for the edge of the lawn. It is intended that the identity and appearance of the zone will develop in line with the proposed level of quality. The zone is accessed from the “slowed-down” riverbank promenade, which will become an attractive place for pedestrians to stroll.

Spatial composition

The entire area is designed as a green leisure area with an urban character which has a specific identity and expresses its relationship with the water on a number of levels. The landscape – in its role as a docking station – and the buildings positioned within it combine to form a varied spatial composition. This is recognisable as a cohesive structure while also permitting a heterogeneous approach. The powerful reshaping of the landscape starts with the insertion of high-quality concrete elements and is refined further by a series of differentiated surface treatments involving finely-detailed, perforated coloured inserts and large areas of greenery. This differentiation creates a series of spaces where different groups of users of a variety of ages can come together and relax.

Placemaking – process & use

The landscape creates a series of high-quality spaces which can be seen as “place-makers”, areas whose powerful structures offer a setting for specific uses that can change from day to day. The key infrastructure required for using the Plaza, the beach and the sporting facilities is integrated in both formal and functional terms. This insertion of the core functions into the new topography and the alternating positioning of the built interventions open up wide views of the Danube. The oblique orientation of the buildings towards the water’s edge and the varying height of the riverbank further intensify this relationship with the water.

Press kit: Copa Cagrana