Flussbogen Promenade, Ennetbaden
with Patrick Gmür Architekten AG, Engineer Ernst Winkler + Partner AG, 2007
Baden and Ennetbaden have been since Roman times a place for bathing and wellness. Today Ennetbaden wishes to refresh its image and develop tourism by redefining its river promenade and connection to Baden’s historic bathing centre. The design concept provides a single strong identifier for the Fluss Promenade, unifying to two banks of Baden and Ennetbaden. A connected path marked by wisteria vines takes the stroller from Baden to Ennetbaden, along the Limmat. In winter, nature has lost its brilliance. The metal structure along our promenade becomes a structural support for a weather protection element. Lit at night, these become at times a kiosk to have warm chestnuts, a place to sit and have a coffee under a gas heater, a Christmas market. The wood promenade offers a privilege rapport to the Limmat and provides a second tempo along the promenade’s cafes and public spaces. The boardwalk shifts in height along the promenade, its undulation reminding us of the river surface. At times elevated to provide a second tempo to slower walking and sitting areas at the water’s edge. In front of the piazzas, the boardwalk gently comes down to ground, creating a generous public space. Marked by a ribbon of wisteria vines and benches.