“Paradise L” – that’s the name of the place around the steps in Graz’s Leechgasse, a small paradise at the foot of the Leechkirche and a popular meeting place for young people. Since 2017, the steps have connected the alley with the city’s oldest church, which is located slightly higher up. Because it is used intensively, it is due for renovation. This will be partly financed through crowdfunding.
Oasis of coziness
“We receive support from the Diocese of Graz-Seckau, the Catholic Church of Austria, the City of Graz, the Geidorf district and private individuals,” says Alois Kölbl, university chaplain of the Catholic Church of Styria, who is delighted with the participation, which shows how popular this little oasis is. In addition to the steps, there is a lawn, deck chairs, an apple tree and rose bushes. However, the support is not enough, and so the Catholic university community, in whose care the little paradise is, is hoping for 5,000 euros via a crowdfunding campaign. In addition to material costs, they also want to finance an opening party on this lawn.
With the Ortwein School
The staircase installation goes back to a project by the artist duo RESANITA in 2017. The aim at the time was to open up the area to everyone and to connect the street with the church and the “urban gardening facility” (community garden in the city) on the church hill. Now the wooden structure of the staircase is to be repaired with the help of the Ortwein School – including renewal of the substructure. “Our aim is a long-lasting solution to preserve the popular installation for many more years,” says university chaplain Kölbl.
