In one of Europe’s most environmentally conscious capitals stands a facility that, to many, could be regarded as an ordinary waste treatment plant. But the Spittelau incineration plant in Vienna is much more than that: it is a combination of advanced technology, innovative architecture and artistic vision. The building, which attracts attention with its colourful and imaginative form, is an important element of the city’s infrastructure and one of the most recognisable examples of ecological design in Europe.
From industrial function to urban icon
The Spittelau incineration plant (German: Müllverbrennungsanlage Spittelau) was opened in 1971 on the site of the former engine house and pumping station of the Kaiser Ferdinand waterworks. The facility was built in the northern part of Vienna’s 9th district, right next to the Danube Canal and the Franz Josef railway line. The plant’s original purpose was to supply thermal energy to the New Hospital, about two kilometres away. From the beginning it played an important role in the city’s energy system, but its importance grew with the development of the city’s district heating network. In the 1980s, the incineration plant underwent a number of modernisations. In particular, the flue gas treatment system was upgraded, with the installation of, among other things, a wet scrubber and equipment for denitrification and dioxin neutralisation. However, the real transformation, not only technologically but also visually, took place after the great fire in 1987.
Hundertwasser and the aesthetic revolution of the Spittelau incineration plant
After the fire, the external form of the building was extensively redesigned. The Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, known for his avant-garde, organic forms and strong aversion to right angles, was the author of the concept for the new façade. He was assisted in the realisation of the project by architects Peter Pelikan, Alexander Marchart, Roland Moebius and the Waagner-Biro firm. The new form of the incinerator gave it a completely different expression. The building very quickly became a contemporary symbol of harmony between technology, art and ecology. The previously austere and typically industrial building gained a colourful, uneven façade, golden domes and asymmetrical details. One of the most distinctive elements became the chimney ‘cap’ – the result of a spontaneous reaction by Hundertwasser, who in a fit of creative frustration threw down: “I’m going to smash my hat against this!”. Instead of rejecting the idea, the designers decided to make it a reality.
Technology hidden behind art
Beneath the fairytale façade of the incineration plant lies an impressive infrastructure. The plant can process up to 260,000 tonnes of waste per year, producing approx. 470,000 MWh of district heat and 40,000 MWh of electricity, enough to heat more than 60,000 Viennese households. The incineration plant operates as one of the three thermal waste conversion plants owned by Wien Energie and supplies 22% of the entire municipal grid with heat. In addition, up to 400 MW of heat can be generated in five gas-fired boilers to cover peak demand. Importantly, despite its intensive operation, the plant regularly undergoes technological upgrades and meets high environmental standards. In 2009, carbon dioxide emissions amounted to 26,593 tonnes – relatively low for this scale of operation.
Spittelau incineration plant as an inspiration for the world
The Vienna plant has become a model for similar developments in other parts of the world. In Osaka, Japan, an incinerator inspired by the Spittelau project was built, also colourful, unobvious and integrating art and industry. This approach highlights a shift in thinking about industrial architecture: it does not have to be merely functional, it can also shape public space and give it an artistic character.
Source: wien.info, wienenergie.at
Also read: Architecture | Facade | City | Vienna | Austria
