This distinctive concrete building directly at the Rhine Falls basin was built by the well-known Swiss architect, Walter Maria Förderer. The name «Park» originates from the former Grand Hotel Schweizerhof, which had a landscaped park in this area with footpaths for its guests to stroll along. Thanks to the special microclimate at the Rhine Falls, visitors were also able to admire exotic plants. Even today the remains of these pathways as well as terrace ruins and view points still exist.

The «Rhenania Terrace», erected by the Neuhausen council on the former walls of the original Grand Hotel Schweizerhof, brings the once blossoming Rhine Fall Hotel era back to life. Today, this area offers a recreation area and a magnificent panorama and view of the imposing Rhine Falls.

www.park-rheinfall.ch

Architect Walter Förderer

Walter Maria Förderer (* March 21 1928 in Nohl, Switzerland; † June 29 2006 in Thayngen, Switzerland) was a Swiss sculptor, architect, professor and politician. He became well-known expecially for building churches and schools. Very impressive is the scultpural architecture in St. Nicolas's church in Heremence in Valis (canton in Switzerland).

After the completion of secondary school and having studied sculpture at Art College in Basel, he first trained with the architect, Hermann Baur. In 1956 he opened his own architecture office together with Rolf Otto, doing office sharing from 1958 to 1964 with Rolf Otto und Hans Zwimpfer. In 1965 he received the call to be professor for cooperative form design at the academy for educational art in Karlsruhe and from 1986 as honorary professor for design at Stuttgart University. In 1993 he became emeritus.

From 1979 Förderer worked as a sculptor on stereoscopic crates. Förderer’s architecture is influenced by exposed concrete material and its plastic fusion. He is one of the most well-known representatives of Brutalism in Switzerland.