Graz, UNESCO City of Design and Historical Heritage

Abstract

Graz is the second largest town in Austria and the capital of Styria, with a population of about 300,000 inhabitants. This middle-sized European city is an influential industrial, cultural and university center. Its specific geopolitical location within Europe and its mixed ethnic population have influenced the formation of Graz as a city of rich cultural exchange. Its historical center, located at the foot of the Schlossberg castle, became a UNESCO world cultural heritage site in 1999 and is one of the best preserved historical downtowns worldwide. The cultural revival in the second half of the 20th century brought innovative architecture and urban modernization to Graz, and it later gained a wider international reputation as the European Cultural Capital in 2003. For this occasion two important modern city landmarks were built: the new contemporary museum, Kunsthaus, built along the river Mur bank and a multi-purpose object, the Murinsel, located directly in the Mur River. The City of Graz has also been a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities network as a City of Design since 2011. Modern development and the preservation of tradition are both equally present here. This city profile emphasizes the creative industry as one of the economic strategies for the Graz city government.