Since time immemorial, water features have been a source of joy and refreshment for young and old, especially on hot days. The water playground in the inner green belt between Venloer Strasse and Vogelsanger Strasse, which opened in summer 2021, is a magnet for everyone. The facility, which was first built in the 1960s, was in urgent need of renovation. The landscape architecture firm Axel Schütze, commissioned by the city of Cologne, developed a completely new square covering an area of over 1,250 m². The aim was to create an attractive place to linger and feel good all year round, which also meets the highest standards of sustainability and responsible use of resources.

In order to reduce water consumption, the course was equipped with state-of-the-art water technology. By swirling the water in the water attractions from the manufacturer Roigk, the impression of a large amount of water can be created, although only a small amount of water is actually used. The surface of the water play areas had to meet the highest requirements in terms of fall protection and sufficient slip resistance while at the same time being impermeable to water. In keeping with the theme of water and beach, the surface was colored in two shades of blue and one sand-colored tone. Visitors are thus transported to a beach and vacation atmosphere. Outside of the operating hours of the water playground, the surface is popular with recreational athletes, not least because of its elastic and shock-absorbing properties. Even in the early hours of the morning, dance and gymnastics groups, yoga fans and even martial artists are out and about here.

www.axel-schuetze.de

Photos:

Axel Schütze
Felix Arabin

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 03|22)