The Linzer Eye: The Launch of a New Landmark

Press Conference
Thursday, 25 June 2009

Riverside venue, rotating stage and site for relaxation all in one—that’s what the new Linzer Eye delivers. The platform on the banks of the Danube will officially open on July 10, endowing Europe’s Capital of Culture with its latest landmark. This sustainable enhancement of Linz’s downtown infrastructure has been provided under the auspices of Linz09 and the Chamber of Architects and Consulting Engineers of the Provinces of Upper Austria and Salzburg.

The planning process took almost two years, and the construction itself about four months. These efforts will come to fruition on July 10, 2009 at 7 PM with the opening of the Linzer Eye on Donaulände. The spacious rotating platform situated across the river from the Ars Electronica Center can accommodate up to 200 visitors. “In addition to constituting a new tourist attraction for Linz, the Eye has also been conceived with local residents in mind as a spot for enjoyment and relaxation on the banks of the Danube,” stated President Rudolf Kolbe of the Chamber of Architects and Consulting Engineers of the Provinces of Upper Austria and Salzburg. This facility—providing a 360° panoramic view of the Capital of Culture—will be open to the public daily beginning at 8 AM.

Plus, the Linzer Eye has been conceived as a flexible riverside stage and thus as a venue for such events as plays, concerts and dances. It’s thus meant to serve a place to relax and enjoy life in downtown Linz, as well as to partake of the very diverse cultural life that the city offers.