KALKPARK 3001

What it's all about

What was once taken for granted is becoming the exception for many: leisure time. As the pressure to perform increases, public spaces for shared experiences are becoming rarer. Whether due to admission fees, privatization, or usage restrictions—places for aimless wandering are disappearing. A prominent example is the Kalkberg in Cologne-Kalk: a derelict area that seems lost to urban society due to barriers and fences. Yet it is precisely here, in the shadow of the urban highway and surrounded by rubble, that the potential lies for a radical reinterpretation of urban planning and recreation.

Why you need to come 

KALKPARK 3001 transforms this inhospitable place into a utopian vacation resort. Amidst construction debris and overgrown vegetation, performative islands of relaxation emerge, celebrating idleness without the pressure to optimize. Guided by an audio walk, visitors explore the site, immerse themselves in the participatory, artistically curated history of the hill, and reclaim the “sunny spots” between concrete and nature. It is an invitation to reclaim the unknown and off-limits places of the big city and to find quality of life where you least expect it.

Psst!

The Kalkberg is a place full of contrasts: once a landfill for chemical waste, today a viewpoint of ecological significance. KALKPARK 3001 brings these hidden layers of Cologne’s urban history to life and asks the question: Who owns the space we stand on? A project at the intersection of urban activism, performance, and local history.

Additional information

Headphones will be provided on site.
The audio walk takes place outdoors. Weather-appropriate clothing is recommended.
The path includes gentle inclines. The terrain is uneven and requires sturdy footwear.
There are ribbons along the edges of the path that mark its course. You must not leave the path at any time during the audio walk. Staff at the foot of Kalkberg will welcome visitors and direct them to the starting point of the audio walk.