Drachenfelsplateau Königswinter

The demolition of the towering restaurant from the 70s will create a coherent open space facing the Rhine valley, which will allow the previously separate south, west and east terraces to grow together spatially and create a highly attractive outdoor area with a direct connection to the arrival level of the Drachenfelsbahn.

The open space design of the Drachenfelsplateau thematises the existing terrain offset between the arrival and terrace levels and forms a seating area oriented towards the valley side with a wide view over the Rhine valley. The intermediate terraces can be used for gastronomy. Along the newly built retaining wall and the pulpit with the historic obelisk, an inclined plane develops to reach the upper terrace level and the pulpit. All terrace and amenity areas will be constructed of small stone pavers in passè bond. Seating steps and new retaining walls will be capped with exposed concrete slabs. The vertical elevations of the retaining walls will be clad in a natural stone typical of the site. The modern handling of the surface and the laying of the material set the new open space elements in an exciting contrast to the historical architecture. However, the materiality as such remains intact. The variety of possible uses of the different plateau levels creates differentiated qualities of stay. Gently sloping surfaces intersect with horizontal steps and thus lead from nature to architecture.