Soil protection starts with the compact city
One example of this is Seestadt. Here, growth is deliberately organized in a compact way: through dense development, mixed uses, and the targeted stacking of functions – such as living, working, and local amenities in close proximity. At the same time, around 50% of the area remains open space.
Land use efficiency also demonstrates how strongly planning here is focused on efficiency: In Seestadt, it currently stands at 66 m² per resident – well below the Vienna average of around 127 m².
High-quality urban development x soil protection
The decisive factor is not just how much is built, but how and where it is built. Compact neighborhoods with good public transport links, mixed uses, and high-quality open spaces can concentrate growth without constantly consuming new land.
This makes it clear that high-quality urban development and careful land use can go hand in hand.
This perspective is also increasingly discussed at the industry level. At the recent press conference of the Association of Austrian Project Developers (VÖPE), Sabine Müller, Board Member of Wien 3420 Development AG and VÖPE Board Member, emphasized the importance of a nuanced debate on land use.
The discussion about land consumption and soil sealing is often emotionally charged. This makes fact-based approaches and concrete examples from practice all the more important: A newly developed glossary with 99 technical terms is intended to provide a common foundation in the future and to base the debate on reliable data and clear definitions.
Seestadt thus exemplifies that urban densification, mixed use, and generous open spaces are not contradictions – but key building blocks for responsible land management.
