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Austria’s capital city has topped the list of the world’s most livable cities, boasting over 50% green cover and excellent quality of life. Within the city limits, Vienna has around 1,000 hectares of parks and forests providing many places for its residents to escape the concrete jungle. These green spaces serve another function; to help cool down the city during the increasingly hot summers, contributing to building Vienna’s urban climate resilience. Among these efforts is the “Livable Climate Model City Project”, for which Vienna has made 100 million euros available between 2020 and 2025 in order to fight the heat island effect through the building new green spaces through the city, as well as incorporating green façades where space limitations prevent new parks being created. Vienna is a founding member of Cities4Forests.Photos by Aika Maeda.

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Zieglergasse Cool Mile (Kühle Meile) in the 7th District. Completed in 2020, this initiative provides seating along the street, with 24 new trees providing shade and public water points providing refreshment to help residents keep cool.
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MA31 (Municipal Department 31) in Grabnergasse, also known as Vienna Water. In line with the city’s commitment to urban cooling, the building dedicated to the city’s water boasts a beautiful green façade.
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Hundertwasserhaus, designed by the famous Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. In addition to the magical architecture, the balconies and roof of the building have over 200 trees and shrubs adorning it, making it one of the city’s secret green oases.
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While the Hundertwasserhaus can only be viewed from outside, just across the street the artist created the Hundertwasser Village, which is open to visitors. The Village has its own square, including this fountain, a bar, and a number of shops built in the typical Hundertwasser style.
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In addition to public buildings, the sustainable climate change adaptation projects in the city also include the funding of green façades on stations and private housing.
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The view of Vienna from the Kahlenberg, a popular day trip for the city’s residents located in the Vienna Woods. On clear days, such as the one featured here, it is possible to see the Schneeberg in the distance, which is the origin for Vienna’s mountain spring water.
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The Upper Belvedere Palace from across the garden. The Belvedere complex is one of the most iconic city sights, made up of two Baroque palaces, the Upper and Lower, the Orangery, and the Palace Stables.
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The Ring (Ringstrasse) is a large circular boulevard that serves as a ring around the historic city center. The Ring is over 6.5km long and is lined by many of the city’s iconic buildings and museums. The Ring includes wide footpaths and cycle lanes to encourage users to enjoy this boulevard in all its glory.
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A vertical garden on the façade of the Zedlitzhalle in the First District, completed in 2019. The garden features Wisteria Sinensis, chosen because of its ability to climb up to 20m high, allowing it to cover the geometric stainless steel frame beneath.

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