Belgian landscape architecture studios BuroLandschap and De Gregorio & Partners designed a circular cycling experience in Hechtel-Eksel, at Pijnven in the Bosland forest, at junction 272 of the cycle route network, in the province of Limburg, Belgium.
Built for tourism organization Visit Limburg in the Pijnven nature reserve, the structure is a double circle that is 100 meters in diameter; it gradually rises to a height of 10 meters and is 700 meters long.
This provides for a special 360° experience for the senses that literally takes cyclists into “higher realms” amongst the treetops, before they descend back to the forest floor. In that sense, Cycling Through The Trees is a cycle path that is designed to be in harmony with nature.
The structure also uses Corten steel pillars which are situated at varying intervals of 1, 2 and 3 meters apart to symbolize the straight trunks of the fir trees — ensuring the beautiful fit into the environment.
For the sake of safety, cycling is one-way and there is a subtle wire net with a handrail.
Takeaway
The project was designed and built for tourism organization Visit Limburg in the Pijnven nature reserve in Belgium.
Action point
A structure like this is not only made to promote cyclism, but is also a "tool" to attract tourists into the area. As such, Cycling Through The Trees is ideal for municipalities that have a mountain or a hill in the area where such a structure could be placed. As a public official, you get to benefit from such a project that would not only promote healthy life but could also bring tourists to the area — and that leads to new jobs.
You may pitch the project to the local municipality your business serves, presuming there is a hill or a mountain nearby where this kind of project could be implemented. Even if you're not running (working in) an architectural studio, you may still pitch in the core idea and find a partner which would be able to turn the idea into a real project. This is one of those green and healthy projects that could also bring new tourists to the area — and as such, shouldn't be a hard sell.
Contacts & Links:
Hasselt, Belgium