Discover Germany | Special Theme | German Architecture 2017
Judiciary Centre Bochum. Photo: © Bau und Liegenschaftsbetrieb NRW
‘Demenzgarten’ in Alzenau.
‘Einstein Gymnasium’ school in Potsdam.
‘Sugar cubes’
Concrete artefact at ‘Park am Löbauer Wasser’.
Inspired by the past, designed for the future For the award-winning landscape architects at hutterreimann, a site’s history is the best source of inspiration. Their concepts not only take a site’s old character into account, but also incorporate it into a new identity. TEXT: MARILENA STRACKE | PHOTOS: CHRISTO LIBUDA
Every city or town has abandoned relicts of the past, neglected dull sites nobody is proud of. The art of turning old into new, yet keeping parts of the past alive, is hutterreimann’s expertise. The talented landscapers understand a space’s character and explore the hidden potential of what is already there. Whether it is industrial wasteland, a special stock of trees or military remainders, hutterreimannarchitects are inspired by it and thrive on the challenge. “Through dealing creatively with what we find on site, we build dynamic characteristic landscapes with new identities,” says managing director Stefan Reimann. “It is very gratifying to present traces of the past in a completely new context. An example is the car-sized piece of concrete foundation, we found on site of the ‘Park am Löbauer Wasser’ during the demolition of the old sugar factory. It is an artefact that now func88 | Issue 50 | May 2017
tions as an impressive remnant of the past right at the centre of the park,”he adds. Naturally the social and ecological context, sustainability, feasibility and innovative materials also play major roles during the planning phase. As a result, the finished projects are multi-layered, timeless, and full of character and flair. The upcoming garden show Natur in Pfaffenhofen 2017 marks a milestone for hutterreimann. From May onwards, Pfaffenhofen will benefit from a completely transformed green city centre, which integrates its little river Ilm properly into the cityscape. Previously hidden and made inaccessible by industrial buildings, the river is going to be the heart of Pfaffenhofen and will bring a new quality of life to the citizens. It is difficult to pick a favourite from the many amazing projects hutterreimannlandscape-architects have accomplished.
An overgrown former water playground near lake Tegel became an exciting adventure island called ‘Robinson Crusoe’. Another is themed around a space journey to Jupiter, reflecting upon the surrounding’s previous use as an airfield. From open spaces for schools such as the Einstein-gymnasium in Potsdam, to transforming the outdoor areas of government buildings like the judiciary centre in Bochum, hutterreimann’s track record truly speaks for itself. Wherever hutterreimannlandscape-architects go, they transform the past into a better place for the future. Check out their inspiring portfolio at the following website: www.hr-c.net Visualisation of ‘Belvedere’ in Würzburg. Photo: © hutterreimann