Le “Chemin des Carrières”, the Quarries’ Track, project by Reiulf Ramstad Architects, is a lace undulating in the landscape, an invitation to travel as our ambition behind the reconquest of the Rosheim-St Nabor railway in Alsace, France.
Ominous, sometimes hidden, the vestiges of the railway still mark the reading of the site.
The desire to create a route to serve the quarries had to adapt to the undulating landscapes of the sub-Vosges hills and the very form of the tracing tells the history of the landscape and the men.
The journey to discover forgotten landscapes or to take a different view on everyday landscapes is addressed to both local users and tourists.
Like the old track that offered a dual function (industrial and passenger transport), the route has a double vocation where the functional must rub shoulders with the imaginary of travel.
Along the 11km path goes a story, which the stops split into five chapters of different sequences of landscapes offering varied universes and highlighting remarkable sites.
Unusual elements punctuate the way, aiming at awakening the visitor’s senses, and water is encountered repeatedly.
Rosheim tells the story of the past.
Realized by intertwined circles in corten steel, the pavilion has a labyrinthine character and play with the irregular concave and convex interior, which the visitors are free to roam.
The train tracks are conserved in that area, benches are built, and openings are created to open or close the sculpture to chosen views of the surrounding landscape allowing for viewing, seating – reflexion and contemplation.
For further information please visit www.reiulframstadarkitekter.com.
CREDITS
Project: Chemin des Carrières
Studio: Reiulf Ramstad Architects
Location: Portes Bonheur, Rosheim, France
Photo: @11_h_45 and @ChristopheHamme
