Wasserspielplatz Wasserturm
Date
- Wasserturm Favoriten, Wien, Austria ( 10., Windtenstraße 3)
Keywords
Analysis, History of Architecture, Experimental Architecture, Architecture
Abstract
Wasserspielplatz Wasserturm is a public playground located in the 10th district of Vienna, this playground is a water play area, usually for children, while a number of festivals and events related to the water element are often held here. The name of the amusement park, however, comes from the Wasserturm Favoriten, a water tower in the park. Open Time: May-September 09:00 - 21:00 (note: the entire park is inaccessible during off periods) Transport: bus 15A, 65A, 261 or Straßenbahn 1 Cost: Free entrance
General Text
HISTORY: The reason for establishment of water towers: Around the middle of the 19th century, Vienna had an inadequate supply of drinking water, which led to epidemics of typhoid and cholera. After abandoning the idea of obtaining water from underground streams near the banks of the Danube and its tributaries or from sources close to the city, the Vienna City Council decided on July 12, 1864, to build the first Vienna high spring water pipeline. (I. Wiener Hochquellenleitung), As a part of First Vienna Mountain Spring Pipeline: The entire complex consists of a water tower, water reservoir, valve house, machine and boiler house and outbuildings. The water tank with underground water reservoir (10th, Triester Straße 83) is the oldest part of the plant and was built in 1873 for the first Vienna Mountain Spring Pipeline. From the Wienerberg water tank, the districts of Innere Stadt, Wieden, Margareten and Mariahilf are supplied with high spring water for around 130,000 people. Higher demand: The most difficult problem was supplying water to the higher parts of the 10th district, which is why the pumping station on the Wienerberg was built during the last phase of the expansion of the I. Hochquellenleitung. The "water tower" erected there serves to house a pumping station, which has the task of lifting the water flowing from the Wienerberg reservoir into a tank, from where it can be supplied under pressure to the highest parts of the 10th and 12th districts. Construction of the Favoriten water tower and pumping station began on March 23, 1898. After a period of 18 months, the pumping station, built on August 3, 1899 according to the plans of the municipal building inspector Franz Barkowetz, was put into operation. Retire after a successful career: A few years later, the second Viennese high spring water pipeline (II. Wiener Hochquellenleitung), which came into operation in 1910, took over the tasks of the pumping station. Since then, the tower has only been operated occasionally, for example when the second high spring water pipe had to be drained for maintenance work. Since 1956, the water tower is no longer used for water supply. Between 1988 and 1990, the Government of Vienna undertook a major overhaul of this landmark at a cost of 15 million shillings. The interior of the tower was used as a space for water-themed exhibitions or other events. NOWADAYS: In 2011, the water park opened around the Wasserturm Favoriten. The water park is a joint project of the Vienna Water Department (MA 31) and the Vienna City Gardens (MA 42) and is around 15,000 square meters in size. According to statements made in interviews by government officials responsible for the construction of the water park, the target group of the water park is children in Vienna. The design of the park is based on the ideology of providing public space and promoting social interaction and child development. This ideology is part of social inclusion and community building and aims to provide equal opportunities and enjoyment for all. The park includes a water playground itself, a large lawn, and several sports areas and facilities, such as a volleyball court, an Active Park equipped with fitness equipment and table tennis tables. Highlights of the playground include a huge cold pool, a wooden rope ferry popular with children, two waterfalls, and a beautiful leafy arch modeled after an ancient Roman water crossing bridge. There is also a 6-meter high water tower slide, a sand and mud playground, and a water fountain. The playground also offers a snack kiosk, children's activities, and free toilet and shower facilities. The area not only offers a wide range of activities and facilities for families and children to enjoy but also incorporates educational and cultural elements to entertain and inform people about the importance of water and the history of Vienna's water supply, such as the annual Wiener Wasserfest, from which the Trink'Wassertag is derived. Inside the park there is also the water school established by the Vienna Water Department (MA 31) for students in grades 3-8 to learn everything they need to know about water in a fun way. In addition to the basic climatic physics of water, a large part of the program offers lessons on Vienna's historical water supply system and how it has developed over the course of human history. By combining a tour of the water element with curriculum knowledge, this mass of children gained insights into history and the water element in a more interesting way. Some parents who have experienced water parks find them to be a good alternative to swimming pools for parents to bring their children to in early summer and on hot and cloudy days. Most of the amusement parks are filled with younger children, children between the ages of 6-10 and who are comfortable with the water park facilities and are happy to visit. The park is very easy to get to, with 3 different buses passing through the area. You can also get to the park on the Straßenbahn 1 and get off at the "Windtenstraße" stop, which is only 1 minute away. A study of the demographic and related statistics of the Government of Vienna did not reveal any specific data on the composition of the tourist community for this specific space. Some local residents of Vienna 10 stated that they had not visited the water park although they lived in the district, which may be reasonable given the 43.3% overseas population share of Vienna 10.Bezirk. The water park is open for a relatively short period of time each year, but it receives a large number of visitors and hosts events with water elements during its opening period, which presumably includes a large number of non-Viennese immigrants, as well as foreign visitors from other regions.
Text
REFERENCES: Stadt Wien. Wasserspielplatz Wasserturm. Retrieved 21.02.2024 from https://www.wien.gv.at/umwelt/parks/anlagen/wasserspielplatz-wasserturm.html Stadt Wien. (2014). stadtUNbekannt: Wasserturm Favoriten. Retrieved 21.02.2024 from https://www.wien.gv.at/video/246940/stadtUNbekannt-Wasserturm-Favoriten Stadt Wien. Neuer Wasserspielplatz in Favoriten 2011. Retrieved 21.02.2024 from https://www.wien.gv.at/video/166928/Neuer-Wasserspielplatz-in-Favoriten-2011 OEIF mediathek Publikationen. (2020). wien l zahlen daten und fakten Retrieved 21.02.2024 from https://www.integrationsfonds.at/mediathek/mediathek-publikationen/publikation/wien-l-zahlen-daten-und-fakten-1-1-7084/ Wiener Wasser. Wiener Wasserschule für Schulklassen. Retrieved 21.02.2024 from https://www.wien.gv.at/wienwasser/bildung/wasserschule.html Welt & Wasser Festival. Wasserturm Favoriten. Retrieved 21.02.2024 from https://wwf.arnoargos.com/wasserturm/ kinderinfowien wienXtra. (2015). Wasserspielplatz beim wasserturm. Retrieved 21.02.2024 from https://blog.kinderinfowien.at/wasserspielplatz-beim-wasserturm/
Activity List
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- En Su - Author
- Yuer Han - Author
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Location
Address
- Wasserturm Favoriten, Wien, Austria
- Wien
- Austria
Associated Media Files
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