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| Tyrol
is famous for its unspoiled nature, magnificent Alpine landscape and traditional
farming. But in fact the agricultural sector today employs no more than 5% of
the working population and more than 60% of the Tyrolean population live below
800m above sea level in the densely populated ‘Inntal’. The amorphous structure
of the settlement area spreading along the 150 kilometres-long ‘Inntal’ and its
adjoining valleys is home to 636 000 people (7.8% of the total Austrian population).
The research study TirolCITY – New urbanity in
the Alps (Vienna/Bozen 2005) carried out by YEAN describes and analyzes
the urban potential of the region, and presents new strategies for its future
development. YEAN has produced a ‘TirolCITY map’ that presents the urbanized areas
in the ‘Inntal’ and its adjoining valleys as one continuous city. While other
cities have evolved ring-like around an already existing centre, TirolCITY is
growing together steadily, beginning to form one long linear pattern. Separate
municipalities are becoming urban quarters of one city. Their historic centres,
which have long stagnated as pedestrian precincts, today seem more rural than
they ever really were. In contrast, a mixture of trading, leisure, industrial
and residential zones takes up the space in between. A new urban landscape is
embedding itself in the mountain scenery. |
