Meandering Green Pathway Adds a Whimsical Twist to a Suspended Balcony

In design, it's often said that “form follows function,” but for the Zalewski Architecture Group, sometimes “the form follows fun.” They designed a walk-on balcony that's suspended above a courtyard in Gliwice, Poland. This isn't your typical pathway, though. Instead of being a rigid, straight line, the designers added some whimsy and created a meandering green course that leads you from one entrance to another.

The inviting concept encourages office workers to step out of the balcony door and take a walk along the grassy route. Its path flows freely and is meant to offer a moment of relaxation, rest, and a change your attitude if you're having a bad day. Better yet, this design provides quick access to the outdoors – no need to walk all the way downstairs.

The structure is mounted and supported by a series of thin wires that extend to the surrounding buildings. This, along with the path being 80cm wide, helps to reduce the shadows made on the courtyard. The bottom of the walkway comprises polished metal that mirrors its surroundings and blurs the edges of the path. Not only is this design beneficial for those above ground, but people below can look up and see a sculptural work of art against the sky.

Zalewski Architecture Group website
via [Inhabitat and Contemporist]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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