What began as a purely technical measure for water management has become a colourful highlight in Cologne’s cityscape: the “Cologne Raupe”—a 52-meter artwork beneath the Auenweg Bridge, created by nearly 200 children from KGS Vietorstraße.
From functional to visible and vibrant
Our collaboration with the school began in March with a clear goal: to transform the originally colourless water-management pipeline under the railway bridge into something not only functional, but also lively and visible to everyone. Together with pupils and teachers, the pipeline became a giant, brightly painted caterpillar—full of colour, imagination and joy.
Two project days—one strong result
Across two consecutive project days, the children painted the pipeline with energy and enthusiasm. What started on day one was completed on day two: a true community effort showing how engineering, urban design and young creativity can work hand in hand.
Lasting impact
The response to the “Cologne Raupe” has been overwhelming—within our team and among the many passers-by who now walk by with a smile. To honour this special project, we recently visited the school again to:
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present a framed photo collage of the project,
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donate toys for break time,
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hand over a display case as a lasting reminder of the collaboration, and
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enjoy a surprise performance: the children presented a self-written song—an unforgettable moment for us.
Thank you, Cologne
Our sincere thanks go to the children, the dedicated teachers of KGS Vietorstraße, the City of Cologne, our partner Zeppelin Rental GmbH and, of course, our own team, whose commitment made this project possible.
