Who stands today in a gray and sweltering parking lot may find themselves tomorrow standing in a green and refreshing garden cultivating a diverse contribution to the city of Vienna. A rethink of the existing surface parking capping the southern end of Vienna’s famous Naschmarkt invites residents to co-create a large urban garden. The envisioned communal effort towards nutritional self-sufficiency corresponds to the long tradition of independent, local eateries that define the Naschmarkt. The heterogeneous vegetation strengthens the urban biotope and creates habitat for bees, butterflies, beetles and more. A newly built communal greenhouse supports the resident gardeners and offers space for community events and education. A part of the new structure also houses a new mobility hub designed to develop the existing subway station as a vital transport node. The space for the local flea market remains undisturbed. A creative restructuring of this significant open space also delivers a range of recreational activities including a bicycle path, playgrounds and ball courts. The summit of the ensemble is an observation platform serving as meeting point and public living room where one may reflect on the future communal development of the city, or simply relax.
Food independence, not parking
