Replacement of the Slot Asssemburg air bridge

On the south facade of Assumburg Castle, there is a footbridge over the water that connects the dining room of the Stayokay hostel in the castle with the garden. The bridge was installed during a restoration in the 1960s and has served a purely functional purpose ever since. It had fallen into disrepair, making replacement necessary.

However, this task goes beyond mere technical innovation. The replacement of the bridge provides an opportunity to reconsider the significance of this location and the way in which the castle and the garden are connected. The bridge is located on the main axis of sight and movement of the complex and forms the physical link between the castle and the surrounding landscape.

Historically speaking, the existing bridge was never part of the original castle complex. It is precisely this fact that offers scope for a new intervention to enhance the experiential value of both the monument and the garden, with respect for history and an eye for contemporary use. It was therefore decided to construct the new bridge without steps, making it more accessible. The bridge connects smoothly to the castle at the level of the raised garden from recent history. This creates not only a functional escape bridge, but also a fully-fledged connection in the main axis of the castle and the forecourt.