The bridge's design was inspired by the classic Slinky toy, featuring a wire-mesh spiral that wraps around the walkway.
It is part of the Emscher Landscape Park project, an initiative to transform the former industrial Ruhr region into a green recreational area.
The walkway is designed to vibrate slightly underfoot, mimicking the spring-like nature of the bridge's namesake.
Artist Tobias Rehberger, a recipient of the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale, specifically designed the structure to interact with its surroundings.
The bridge was officially inaugurated in 2011 as part of the regional effort to improve infrastructure for non-motorized transport.
The structure connects the historic Kaisergarten, one of the oldest parks in the region, to the revitalized industrial lands of Emscher Island.
Slinky Springs to Fame is a 406-meter-long pedestrian bridge crossing the Rhine-Herne Canal in Oberhausen. Designed by artist Tobias Rehberger, the structure features a dynamic, spiral-shaped architectural design that mimics a slinky toy. The bridge connects the Kaisergarten park with the Emscher Island and the landscape park. Its construction consists of a 496-ton steel frame that is physically separated from the walkway to allow for vibration and movement. The design utilizes a winding, undulating geometry that changes appearance from different viewing angles. It serves as a structural connection point for the Emscher Landscape Park and the Ruhr region's industrial heritage trails.
From the banks of the canal at the base of the bridge to capture the full spiral structure.
Walk the full length of the bridge to experience the changing perspective of the canal and the surrounding industrial landscape.
Combine your visit with a stroll through the adjacent Kaisergarten park.
Bring a camera, as the interplay of steel, shadows, and the water below offers unique geometric compositions.
Do not treat it as a race track; it is a shared space for pedestrians and cyclists, so stay to the right.
