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9.6.3 Feasibility Study at the Level of Land-Use and Building
Development Planning
Permissible utilisation and development on individual sites are made legally binding for owners and developers during land-use and building development planning.
As a rule sites are zoned for building purposes, as green areas or as traffi c areas.
Aside from this classifi cation the land-use and building development plan also
defi nes the building categories, building methods and building regulations, height
and cross-section of traffi c areas (§5 Vienna Building Code), as well as additional
defi nitions and “Special Conditions”.
9.6.3.1 UHI-Relevant Links in the Land-Use and Building
Development Plan
In principle a distinction has to be made between new developments and structural
improvements to existing buildings. Of course, there is more scope for implementing UHI-relevant measures with new developments. However, there is a wide range
of regulations that can be implemented for future projects in existing buildings as
well. Where major changes are made to existing buildings these must be adapted to
the land-use and building development planning valid at the time. Again, this proves
the long-term strategic signifi cance of this planning level.
Essentially there are two areas where UHI-relevant topics and measures can be
incorporated: in the drawn and in the written part. The drawn part sets out rules for
escape routes, conditions for use or building classes, i.e. rules to do with the urban
structure and the shape of buildings, as well as measures aimed specifi cally at reducing the UHI effect, such as various greening measures, or at mitigating the impact,
such as requirements for shaded pathways and arcades. “Special Conditions” (BB)
in the written part of the building development plan contain specifi cations for the
defi ned area, offering additional suggestions for integrating measures to reduce the
UHI effect. This includes, in particular, targets for garden design, roof greening,
façade greening, desealing, greening of courtyards and tree planting.
Measures in the drawn part may range from directions of the streets to the geometry of a building. Streets heat up more in the course of a day than their environment. It is recommended that street layout and adjacent buildings with a shading
effect on the streets are considered at this level. The width of streets is connected to
the height of buildings with relevant regulations set out in the Vienna Building Code
(§75 para. 4). These regulations are generally applicable with the exception of protected zones or areas designated “urban development hotspots”. There is little point
in narrowing the cross sections of streets as this would necessitate a reduction in
building heights to avoid diffi culties with lighting and exposure to light. Wider cross
sections combined with green infrastructure can help to reduce the UHI effect.
Depending on the direction of a street (E-W, N-S) measures, such as planting rows
of trees or utilisation of surfaces may have more or less of an impact. Alignment of
9 Pilot Action City of Vienna – UHI-STRAT Vienna
9.6.3 Feasibility Study at the Level of Land-Use and Building
Development Planning
Permissible utilisation and development on individual sites are made legally binding for owners and developers during land-use and building development planning.
As a rule sites are zoned for building purposes, as green areas or as traffi c areas.
Aside from this classifi cation the land-use and building development plan also
defi nes the building categories, building methods and building regulations, height
and cross-section of traffi c areas (§5 Vienna Building Code), as well as additional
defi nitions and “Special Conditions”.
9.6.3.1 UHI-Relevant Links in the Land-Use and Building
Development Plan
In principle a distinction has to be made between new developments and structural
improvements to existing buildings. Of course, there is more scope for implementing UHI-relevant measures with new developments. However, there is a wide range
of regulations that can be implemented for future projects in existing buildings as
well. Where major changes are made to existing buildings these must be adapted to
the land-use and building development planning valid at the time. Again, this proves
the long-term strategic signifi cance of this planning level.
Essentially there are two areas where UHI-relevant topics and measures can be
incorporated: in the drawn and in the written part. The drawn part sets out rules for
escape routes, conditions for use or building classes, i.e. rules to do with the urban
structure and the shape of buildings, as well as measures aimed specifi cally at reducing the UHI effect, such as various greening measures, or at mitigating the impact,
such as requirements for shaded pathways and arcades. “Special Conditions” (BB)
in the written part of the building development plan contain specifi cations for the
defi ned area, offering additional suggestions for integrating measures to reduce the
UHI effect. This includes, in particular, targets for garden design, roof greening,
façade greening, desealing, greening of courtyards and tree planting.
Measures in the drawn part may range from directions of the streets to the geometry of a building. Streets heat up more in the course of a day than their environment. It is recommended that street layout and adjacent buildings with a shading
effect on the streets are considered at this level. The width of streets is connected to
the height of buildings with relevant regulations set out in the Vienna Building Code
(§75 para. 4). These regulations are generally applicable with the exception of protected zones or areas designated “urban development hotspots”. There is little point
in narrowing the cross sections of streets as this would necessitate a reduction in
building heights to avoid diffi culties with lighting and exposure to light. Wider cross
sections combined with green infrastructure can help to reduce the UHI effect.
Depending on the direction of a street (E-W, N-S) measures, such as planting rows
of trees or utilisation of surfaces may have more or less of an impact. Alignment of
9 Pilot Action City of Vienna – UHI-STRAT Vienna