reiulf ramstad reconverts railway into 11km route of corten steel installations in france

reiulf ramstad architects has reconverted the rosheim-saint nabor railway in rosheim, france, into chemin des carrières, an 11 km route of different sequences of landscapes, complete with cultural pavilions and installations. with corten steel as its predominant material, the path is split into five chapters, each offering a unique experience while highlighting its remarkable location. this journey is aimed at allowing visitors and locals alike to discover forgotten landscapes or to take a different view on everyday ones. all images by florent michel / 11h45

‘ominous, sometimes hidden, the vestiges of the railway still mark the reading of the site,’ explains reiulf ramstad architects. ‘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 oslo-based architectural firm has split the 11km-long chemin des carrières route into five distinctive chapters, where unusual elements punctuate the way, aiming at awakening the visitor’s senses. located on one of the highest platforms created by the quarries’ machines, saint-nabor features a promontory in corten steel offering a wide view on the valley of rosheim and the plain of alsace. this stop, which tells the story of luck, draws from the four-leaf clover in its form and invites the visitor to feel lucky to enjoy an unobstructed view of the surrounding territory.

another stop, titled rosheim, tells the story of the past through a series of intertwined circles in corten steel which form a labyrinth-like pavilion. a play between irregular concave and convex elements invites visitors to roam through it, while the chance to experience the original train tracks, which have been conserved in this area, as well as a series of openings, created to open or close the the sculpture to chosen views of the surrounding landscape.

in the boersch stop, reiulf ramstad tells the story of water through a large open space amphitheater which connects to the river. at the same time, its riverbed has been enlarged, marking it a dynamic element in the landscape. next, leonardsau, which tells the story of the land, incorporates two large corten steel plates after a long green tunnel. embodying a gate and opening a perspective towards mont st-odile, this stop is designed to amplify the opening effect at the end of the forest corridor toward the open landscape.

finally, ottrott tells the story of travel in the former train station, materializing the history of the railway and highlight the presence of heritage (balance, bridge, crane, pump…). in a fabric of housing buildings, the reservoir, symbolizing water, and concrete crossings connect housing to historical elements and the landscape.