A train delay at Nienburg station has led to an unexpected artistic collaboration between a small German town and a community in Bavaria. Oliver Schwan, a graffiti artist and architect from Estorf in the Nienburg district, was commissioned to redesign a railway underpass in Breitengüßbach after his work caught the attention of a stranded architect.
The story began when a train cancellation forced a Bamberg-based architect and urban planner to make an unplanned stop at Nienburg station. During her wait, she discovered the colorful tunnel artwork that Schwan had created to beautify the station's underpass with vibrant motifs. This chance encounter would prove pivotal for a community project hundreds of miles away.
At the time of her discovery, Breitengüßbach – a municipality near Bamberg with just under 4,500 residents – was already planning to launch a design competition for the artistic renovation of their own railway underpass. The architect, impressed by what she had seen in Nienburg, contacted the city administration and was connected with Schwan and his studio, Atelier Exposé.
Schwan was invited to participate in the competition with his concept titled "Way to Home" (Weg zur Heimat). His design impressed the jury unanimously, as they felt it best represented the community's identity. The project went beyond the originally planned surfaces, incorporating adjacent concrete areas to create a comprehensive transformation of the space.
The artist spent several weeks during the summer working in the small Bavarian community, bringing what he calls "creative greetings from Nienburg" to their railway station. His design concept connects tradition and future, community and joy of life, featuring motifs that represent Breitengüßbach: a modern interpretation of the municipal coat of arms, scenes from daily life, sports and culture, along with warm, natural colors and handwritten accents.
Schwan's experience with railway beautification projects began in 2012 when he first transformed Nienburg's tunnel and platform access areas with colorful designs. His goal was to convert an unattractive tunnel into a significantly more appealing passage. This same objective drove the Franconian competition – to transform the previously gray underpass into a friendly, safe, and identity-building space.
The implementation exceeded the original scope, creating not only a new visual identity but also an effective contribution to vandalism prevention. According to Atelier Exposé, the Breitengüßbach railway underpass now presents itself as a vibrant, colorful gateway to the community and an impressive example of how design can connect people and places.
In Nienburg, Schwan continued his station beautification efforts in 2021, when he collaborated with Johannes Ackermann to give the station hall a makeover featuring nine different city motifs. These include major German cities like Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hannover, Bremen, and Dresden, as well as local Nienburg landmarks such as the "Little Nienburg Girl," St. Martin's Church, the Weser Bridge, and the water tower.
After a fire damaged the station lobby in July 2023, Schwan returned the following year with his colleague Marie Bleyleven to restore the artwork that had been affected by soot and firefighting water. This restoration ensured that the motifs remained fresh and vibrant, continuing to serve as an example of how public art can transform transportation infrastructure and inspire communities far beyond their original location.
