Comparison of Fulfillment of Public Interest in an Urban Space with the Examples of Kolizej in Ljubljana and Cineplexx Palace Complex in Vienna

The practice shows growing investment pressure on important city locations. We wanted to know how effective was the fulfilment of public interest potential in two of such cases. For this study, we selected a case study method to compare two important projects: one in Ljubljana (the area of the former Kolizej – now Schellenburg), and one in Vienna (the area of the former Cineplexx Palace – now Danube Flats). The results of the survey show that the maturity and predictability of the planning system can have an impact on the greater fulfilment of the public interest in an urban space. Both characteristics allow projects to develop more consistently. In this respect, it is essential that the negotiating parties (the city administration and the investor) have flexible urban planning instruments, which are essentially aimed at securing spatial public interest. This enables a better response to the particularity of individual cases and to achieve a better outcome, that is at the same time in both the private and public interest.