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flight of steps also reinforces the riverbank. In this way, both sedimentation and erosion processes are prevented. The straightforward line of the concrete steps is interrupted by roughly hewn granite boulders as well as the loosely arranged stepping stones at their bases. The design of the stairs also dramatises the transition from the artificial element of the park to the natural element of the river. Both the stepping stones and the baffles look like broken-off or eroded fragments of the stairs. They highlight the natural dynamics of the water without pretending to imitate the forms of a natural watercourse.
1 The new steps [A∂.3] reach far into the water. The varying water levels are clearly recognisable and influence how the riverside is used. 2 Schematic section: Alongside the stairs, the embankment was sloped in order to create a shallow water zone which can be accessed via the stepping stones. 3 Depending on the water level, the stepping stones are either submerged or reach well out of the water. 4 Fishing, sunbathing, strolling along the water’s edge – the steps near Wipkingerpark can be used in many different ways. 5 The stepping stones look like broken-off fragments of the stairs. 6 The new park with its promenade, the generous flight of steps and the small stepping stones and baffles in front [A5.2].
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