Heumarkt Reversal:

Vienna No Longer on UNESCO’s Red List of Endangered World Heritage Sites

This is what the Heumarkt was originally supposed to look like after the redesign—the project has since been significantly scaled back. Nevertheless, it has become a major political issue.(Bild: Isay Weinfeld, Sebastian Murr)

After years of criticism and heated debates, the decision has been made: UNESCO has removed Vienna from its Red List of World Heritage Sites in Danger. The developments surrounding the controversial Heumarkt project were the deciding factor.

The World Heritage Committee reached the decision after a lengthy debate during its 48th session in Busan, South Korea. Vienna’s Historic Center had been on the list of World Heritage sites in danger since 2017. The reason for this was the planned construction project at Heumarkt.

Heumarkt Project Scaled Back Several Times
The plan by investor Michael Tojner and his company Wertinvest originally called for a building up to 73 meters tall. After several revisions, the project was significantly scaled back. The most recent version, presented in 2023, calls for a maximum building height of 49.95 meters.

This is what Heumarkt was originally supposed to look like after the redesign—the project has since been significantly scaled back. Nevertheless, it has become a major political issue.(Bild: Isay Weinfeld, Sebastian Murr)

EIA Still Pending
However, the current plans must still undergo an environmental impact assessment (EIA). Just a few days ago, the Administrative Court (VwGH) also dismissed an extraordinary appeal against the project.

With the World Heritage Committee’s decision, Vienna’s status as a World Heritage site in danger—which has been in effect since 2017—now comes to an end.