Four cities, three provinces, two states, one region: Integrated inner-city development concept for the South Alpine Space (ISEK⁴)
ISEK⁴ is a cross-border pilot project for the development of a new planning instrument. It deals with two spatial realities which - despite obvious needs - are rarely considered in context in existing planning instruments: the inner city and the functional region. An integrated urban development concept for the four inner cities of Bruneck (South Tyrol), Hermagor-Pressegger See (Upper Carinthia), Lienz (East Tyrol), and Spittal an der Drau (Upper Carinthia) was designed based on a regional symbiosis as “second” level of action (demonstrating and using synergies between the inner cities, as anchor points of public life in the region). ISEK⁴ is based on an integrated, interdisciplinary approach and was developed together with steering groups from the cities: within eight months, knowledge and needs were collected, recorded, and located in different workshop formats.
The project of an Integrated inner-city development concept in a regional context was initiated by the South Alpine Space City Network (bottom-up approach). The region is exploring new limits of regional cooperation and is contributing to the implementation of the EU Leipzig Charter (2007/2020) and the Territorial Agenda 2030 (2020). Key objectives of the Austrian Spatial Development Concept 2030 (ÖREK 2030) are put into practice, such as the strengthening of polycentric structures, planning in functional living spaces, as well as the climate-friendly and sustainable spatial development.
These challenges can no longer be dealt with by inner cities alone. Working on selected issues regionally is not only efficient, but it also is reasonable to do so. One of the basic ideas of the regional symbiosis is to further develop the inner cities according to common regional priorities. Accordingly, seven spatial guiding ideas are formulated in the ISEK⁴ for the SOUTH ALPINE SPACE. They run through all levels of the concept and are always recognizable: in the future images of the cities, in the integrated inner-city development, in the interventions for the focus areas or perspective areas as well as in the regional vision. The symbiosis shows how the spatial guiding ideas are transforming the SOUTH ALPINE SPACE in the future.
The ISEK is a planning instrument for self-commitment - and thus opens opportunities for a spatially focused and active shaping of the future of the inner city and the entire region. The ISEK is an instrument for steering strategic investments with the goal of supporting inner development and strengthening the stability of city centres. The meaningfulness of regional cooperation is also reflected in the structure and conception of the ISEK⁴: Regional potentials and goals are constantly thought of in combination with local activities and trends. In the city-peculiar parts, the planning focuses on specific sub-areas of the respective city. Idea sketches provide impulses for implementation. The regional symbiosis links the four ISEK of the individual cities and raises them to the regional level. This creates an overall picture for the SOUTH ALPINE SPACE that is more and – in terms of sustainable local and regional development – can do more than the sum of the four concepts for the inner cities.
The ISEK⁴ actively contributes to saving soil by prioritizing inner city development over outer city development. In this context, the use of existing buildings and the coordination of settlement development in connection with accessibility through sustainable forms of mobility, considered from an inner-city and regional perspective, play a major role. Urban qualities such as mixed use or making river and open spaces accessible and attractive ensure a high quality of life in the cities and the region. Furthermore, the ISEK⁴ pursues the strategy of bringing commercial uses from the outskirts back into the inner city. The ISEK⁴ addresses all aspects that are part of a good life for all generations.
