Climbing the stairs to reduce CO₂ emissions, doing something for your health and enjoying a bit of art whilst you’re at it – this has recently become possible in the stairwell of the Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences library in Kleve.
The graffiti, designed by Samira Jannat and applied to the wall in July 2025 by graffiti artists Mr Oreo and Pout Spencer over the course of two days, spans three large walls. The student, who is studying ‘Information and Communication Design’, is the winner of the 2024 ‘Colour the Stairs’ design competition for students, which was launched by the library in collaboration with the Faculty of Communication and Environment and the Facilities Management Department. The idea behind the project was that the stairwell needed to be more colourful, and that anyone who didn’t take the lift should be rewarded with the chance to enjoy art free of charge.
The project began last year with a site visit to the library by students from the ‘Drawing II’ course, accompanied by their illustration lecturer Björn Steinmetzler, to familiarise themselves with the architectural conditions. Library Director Jonas Lamik, project coordinator Maike Schön and the faculty representative for media production, Prof. Dr Christian Stindl, set out the key guidelines for the project: creativity and the use of vibrant colours.
The result is impressive. The artwork is now on display for all university members and interested members of the public to view. Jonas Lamik and Maike Schön are delighted with the new eye-catching feature in their stairwell. “Owing to the positive response and the high quality of the designs, the competition will now take place annually,” reveals Maike Schön. Plans for the design of the next walls are already in place, under the motto ‘Bringing Kamp-Lintfort to Kleve’. Prof. Dr Christian Stindl is delighted that this is bringing the campuses even closer together. The library would like to express its sincere thanks to the Building Management Department and the Friends of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences – Cleve Campus e.V. for their financial support.
