History with a Future – Perception and inclusive quality of use of a European Cultural Heritage site
Presentation at the UD2016 conference in York, UK, 22-25 August 2016.
Authors: Veronika Egger and Lisa Ehrenstrasser
Key words: information spaces, design process, wayfinding, interaction, user experience

Abstract:
Imagine a 700 year old imperial palace that has grown from a medieval castle into an area in the middle of a city extending over half a million square meters (50 ha/123.5 ac). It houses the presidential quarters, various government offices, famous museums with strong identities in their own right, the national library and a congress centre. And it provides a focal point in the modern city for events that move the nation, some of them drawing over a hundred thousand people. We are in the central district of Vienna, Austria. To be more precise we are in the “Hofburg”, the imperial palace and seat of power of the Habsburg dynasty. It has been making history since 1275 and is still a living organism integrated into city life.
And this location – far too modest a term – is struggling with its identity. There is little or only a vague awareness among Viennese and tourists of the actual physical extent of this expanse of buildings, courtyards and parks. It doesn’t stand out as a palace, a castle, as the name would suggest. Over the years it has a grown into a complex structure difficult to understand and navigate. The site has been awarded the European Cultural Heritage Label in 2016, which carries the responsibility of communicating its value in an inclusive and accessible way to all visitors. This was our starting point. Continue reading →