Vienna

Vienna’s close proximity to the Danube River has caused the city to fall victim to many floods that have damaged the city’s infrastructure.  The constant threat of water damage prevented the Viennese from developing the areas closest to the riverbed and existing buildings were under constant repair from the water damage that the river would inflict. 

 

One solution to this problem that was put into action was the digging of trenches along the area of the city that was facing the river.  However, the first major flooding of the river took place in the years 1897 and 1899 and proved to be too much for the trenches that had been dug between the city and the riverbed.  The amount of damage to buildings and homes caused citizens to question the efficiency of the trench system. The realization that the trench system was not affective in protecting the city greatly hindered the city’s development and a new solution needed to be found to protect the city from future flooding. 

 

Another devastating flood took place in 1954 and the amount of damage sustained by the city clearly illustrated that trenches were not an adequate method of protection.  The need for an alternative solution led to the development of the Danube Island Project.