Reuse existing buildings, forum urges Vorarlberg towns

Vorarlberg municipalities should make better use of existing buildings instead of relying on large new construction projects, a forum in Dornbirn concluded, ORF reports. Local officials and experts discussed the approach at an event hosted by inatura and the Bodenfreiheit association.

Vacant ground floors, closed inns and car parks where village life once thrived are putting pressure on town centres, while municipal budgets are tight and construction costs are rising. The forum focused on ways to improve town centres without major new building projects.

Austrian architect and spatial development specialist Roland Gruber compared existing buildings to a chestnut he had found. Its outer shell, he said, can look scaly and prickly, but inside is usually a beautiful core. Older buildings are often just as promising, he said. The key is to work out what activities and uses would suit their spaces, rather than focusing only on construction or renovation.

In Frastanz, a public participation process began about a year ago to gather expectations for a new centre. Funding will likely require a combination of approaches, Mayor Walter Gohm said, including public-private partnerships and solutions backed by the municipality. The park and some old buildings are to remain, while plans include space for housing and work. The municipality has acquired buildings, giving it more room to shape the project. Planning teams are due to present initial proposals soon.

Rankweil is also reconsidering its centre. Renovations and new construction are under way, but investor plans for a supermarket were put on hold after public protests. The municipality now plans to take a broader look at the area.

Deputy Mayor Johannes Herburger, who also works as an independent spatial planner, said a good town centre should be inclusive and resilient, with room for everyone. One example in Rankweil is a popular park with mature trees between Häusle Villa and the primary school.

Dornbirn’s central marketplace also needs to adapt, Mayor Markus Fäßler said. He said it should respond to changing weather conditions and climate change, with paving removed and trees planted where appropriate. The city currently has few vacant properties, but preventing that from changing remains an ongoing task, ORF reported.