Constructing a fresh elevator tower for the Natural History Museum.
An Uncertain Future for the Natural History Museum's Renovation
It's a photo op with a twist, as Katrin Vohland, director of the Natural History Museum, invites us to a groundbreaking ceremony that seems to be creating more controversy than excitement.
The new black-green government has earmarked around 100 million euros for 2023 to enhance the infrastructure at Belvedere, KHM, and NHM. However, visitor numbers have skyrocketed, and the entrance areas are ill-equipped to handle the influx. Additionally, the museums on Maria-Theresien-Platz lack accessible entrances for people with disabilities.
A New Face for the NHM
But here's the kicker—the new government's austerity package might force Culture Minister Andreas Babler (SPO) to put these projects on ice. We'll find out more after Finance Minister's budget speech on May 13. Babler was noticeably quiet about the construction project during his recent visit to the NHM.
Before the groundbreaking ceremony, a press conference was held where Vohland and CEO Markus Roboch discussed the project. Similar to KHM, a new entrance situation will be created: sleek and unobtrusive. However, unlike its sister building, it won't be symmetrical: a new exit will be omitted, and access will be limited to a ground-level entrance on the left side of the central risalit. Behind this, the winning architectural firm Riegler Riewe from Graz will design a 300 square meter area consisting of cash registers, a shop, cloakroom, restrooms, and stroller parking spaces. The estimated cost is 34.7 million euros, with 32.9 million promised by the federal government and 1.8 million contributed by the NHM.
Vohland acknowledges the need for economic consolidation but hopes that "the new federal government has the guts and vision to make the right decisions for the future." She emphasizes the importance of "legal certainty and predictability," especially since only 2 million euros are due in 2025, with the larger amount not due until 2027, towards the end of the renovation period.
The current uncertainty doesn't affect the lift tower, which will be built in the first inner courtyard for 3.3 million euros. This funding is secure. The groundbreaking ceremony only mentioned the museum's vertical accessibility in reference to the planned barrier-free enhancements.
(our website)
In-Depth Analysis
The planned renovation work at the Natural History Museum in Vienna, which includes creating a new barrier-free entrance area, is currently at risk due to budgetary uncertainties following the new government's austerity measures[1]. As of now, certain parts of the museum, such as halls 29 to 32, are closed for ongoing renovations, but the overall project remains in jeopardy due to the uncertain budget[2].
- The 2023 renovation of the Natural History Museum's entrance areas is threatened by the government's austerity measures, potentially delaying the project.
- In light of these uncertainties, the new fitness-and-exercise area within the health-and-wellness sector of the museum, which is part of the 2023 renovation, remains in question.
- The meter set aside for the renovation of Belvedere, KHM, and NHM in 2023 includes a section for the 'science' sector of the Natural History Museum, but its implementation is contingent on the financial situation.
- The new 300 square meter area designed by the Riegler Riewe architectural firm, which will house cash registers, a shop, cloakroom, restrooms, and stroller parking spaces in the Natural History Museum, is set to cost 34.7 million euros and could be affected by the government's budgetary constraints.
