Taubenloch park, Bad Tölz Redesign of a park and the riverbank area on the Isar with minimally invasive work in the root zone of existing trees

Existing and further development: The design for the Taubenloch envisaged visually opening up the existing park and creating a direct link to the Isar river flowing past by removing hedges and fences running parallel to the edge of the bank. In addition, the embankment was made accessible and equipped with seating in the form of boulders and small seating walls. To ensure that the valuable tree population was not affected by the work, substrate was removed, top layers were installed by hand and screw anchors were used as foundations for walls.



Embankment

In the area of the Taubenloch and the town center of Bad Tölz, the Isar river makes a long loop and has, over the years, formed a now consolidated bank. The movement and force of the water is made visible by "washing free" the underlying layers of stone, with bands of colored tamped concrete as small seating walls and embedded, oversized river pebbles sloping down the bank towards the water. These elements structure the bank and now make it possible to sit on and above the water. By modeling the embankment and paths along the edge of the bank, the water is now accessible to everyone. The embankment facing the Isar is planted with a robust, walkable mixture of herbs and grasses.



Striking reception

In the entrance area, near Säggasse, a particularly large boulder welcomes visitors as an eye-catcher. Measuring 4 x 2 x 2 meters and weighing 35 tons, the stone block was previously found during another construction project in Bad Tölz. A promenade leads from the entrance along the shore under the characteristic trees to the park area at the back.



Playground

Various small and larger areas were created for the children on the existing playground, while individual seating groups were created for parents and carers, which also allow them to picnic together. A planting of wild shrubs and bushes surrounds the play area, creating exciting play spaces and increasing biodiversity. Plants, wood and stones can be incorporated into the imaginative play.



Materiality

The choice of materials and their processing makes a clear reference to the geology of the foothills of the Alps: gravel, sand and crushed stone - material shaped and changed by the Isar. Individual rammed concrete walls run along the embankment. Due to the treatment of the surfaces, they look like the Nagelfluh formations in the surrounding area. Natural stone boulders have been placed in the embankment as oversized river pebbles. The paths in the park are designed as water-bound surfaces.



Tree protection/details

In the area of the park promenade, the soil around the existing trees was first mechanically vacuumed to prevent damage to the roots. The surface layers were applied by hand in the root area of the trees. In order to protect the root area of the existing trees, minimally invasive metal screw anchors were used in the construction of the seat walls.