There are lessons to be learnt from 1895 about how urban centers can integrate amusement parks so they become iconic features of a city .
Wurstelprater is an amusement park developed close to the centre of the Vienna metropolis in Austria. It is a crazy mix of colors, lights, sounds and is constantly filled with locals and tourists enjoying themselves on a range of amusements.
Prater park was first opened to the public in 1766 but evolved into the Wurstelprater amusement park in 1895. The Riesenrad, or Giant Wheel was opened in 1897 and has become one of Vienna’s most iconic symbols. Since then the park has been bombed, burnt to the ground, restored, gone through many iterations and survived being permanently shut down.
The Wien Praterstern railway station is metres away from the park and provides patrons with excellent transport options if they decide not to walk the ten minutes to the centre of Vienna.
You may ask why we should care about an amusement park created in 1895?
The ‘so what’ is that Wurstelprater is a case study for integrating significant leisure facilities within urban settings so they provide benefits beyond standalone ‘amusement parks’.
Typical international amusement parks tend to be:
· Built away from the urban centres;
· Have an entrance fee to get into the park;
· Have few or no public transport options close by;
· Have little connection with the nearby urban centre;
· Not synonymous with the nearby city and/or have iconic landmarks.
Wurstelprater is the complete opposite because it:
· Has been built within Vienna city;
· Has no fee to enter and enjoy the park (rides are paid for individually);
· Is close to public transport options with trains, bus, bike and walkways;
· Has a strong connection with Vienna, its people and its history; and
· Evolved into an iconic brand associated with the city.
The Viennese are rightfully proud of Wurstelprater for what it provides the city. It is an enjoyable contrast to the rich cultural, artistic, and architectural history of Vienna and brings a nice balance.
Wurstelprater provides an example to other cities for how they could consider integrating leisure facilities within wider urban planning.
Perhaps such facilities don’t have to be hidden away at the end of a highway at the outskirts of the city? Perhaps they could be designed in an aesthetic manner to which the city could be proud and could even celebrate its iconic design and facilities?
Perhaps we could learn something from 1895?
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