18.10.2024

Winners of the Bavarian Landscape Architecture Prize 2024

Building design

The Bavarian Landscape Architecture Prize 2024 goes to the Oberwiesenfeldpark in the north of Munich by mahl gebhard konzepte. Photo: © Laura Loewel

One main prize, one award in each of five categories and an audience award: at the end of September, the bdla Landesverband Bayern awarded the winners of the Bavarian Landscape Architecture Prize 2024. Find out which project won first prize, who can look forward to receiving an award and when the next edition of the Bavarian Landscape Architecture Award is planned here.

One main prize, one award in each of five categories and an audience award: at the end of September, the bdla Landesverband Bayern awarded the winners of the Bavarian Landscape Architecture Prize 2024. Find out which project won first prize and who can look forward to receiving an award here.

The winners of the Bavarian Landscape Architecture Prize 2024 have been announced. The expert jury of the competition made its choice from 31 submitted projects. Of these, ten projects were shortlisted for the prize in July. The award ceremony took place at the end of September at the State Garden Show in Kirchheim. There, the bdla Landesverband Bayern presented the main prize, one award in each of five categories and the Audience Award to the designated winners. The Audience Award was presented for the first time this year as part of the Bavarian Landscape Architecture Award.

The main prize went to Oberwiesenfeldpark in Munich, a project by mahl gebhard konzepte from Munich. The office implemented the public green space from 2012 to 2021 for the client Olympia Wohn Park GmbH & Co. The planners combined both recreational and leisure elements on the approximately four hectares in the north of Munich: Benches, loungers and meadow areas meet pump tracks for bikers, sports fields and climbing frames. By modeling the terrain, a noise barrier, on which rough grassland was sown, shields the park from traffic. Soil from all over the city – some of it contaminated – was used in the process. The project included species protection compensation areas and biotope networking measures. In his laudatory speech, jury member Thomas E. Hauck wrote that Oberwiesenfeldpark impresses with its successful symbiosis of play, sport and nature conservation. “The jury recognizes this successful combination of nature conservation and urban leisure activities and considers the park to be an exemplary model for future urban development projects,” said Hauck in his laudatory speech for the winner of the Bavarian Landscape Architecture Award 2024.

The Waldnaab Chapel near Tirschenreuth received an award in the “Landscape planning and landscape development” category. Brückner & Brückner Architekten GmbH and STADT LAND FANCK Landschaftsarchitektur und Ökologie were responsible for the wayside chapel in the Waldnaabauen. The project was implemented from 2019 to 2022; the client was the Rotary Club Stiftland, represented by the Rotary Hilfswerk Stiftland e.V. and with the district of Tirschenreuth as a project partner. Visitors can explore the landscape and its history – once shaped by the Cistercians; ponds were used for fish farming. A railroad line through the Waldnaabauen has now been decommissioned and the embankment has been repurposed for hikers and cyclists. Local building materials were used for the new Waldnaab Chapel: kaolin sand from the bottom of the pond as aggregate for the concrete and beams made of coniferous wood. A path with garnet chippings without a substructure leads to the chapel. Bicycle parking spaces were also provided. According to Dietmar Straub’s laudatory speech, the jury was impressed by “how a simple but strong architectural gesture at a well-chosen location creates a balance of landscape and architecture that engages with the existing aesthetic and ecological qualities of the site”.

Nordpark III in Plattling received the award in the “Use of plants and biodiversity” category of the Bavarian Landscape Architecture Prize 2024. From 2017 to 2023, BEM Burkhardt | Engelmayer | Mendel Landschaftsarchitekten Stadtplaner implemented this third section of the Nordpark. The client for the project on the site of a former goods station was the city of Plattling. A campus-like section in the north is adjoined to the south by an extensive landscaped area. An elongated lizard wall near the railroad area provides a habitat for the protected reptiles. Among other things, existing building rubble was used for the embankment. 124 trees and over 300 shrubs were planted in Nordpark III. Katja Aufermann writes in her laudatory speech about the section of the park designed by BEM Landschaftsarchitekten: “With its tranquil design with extensive species-rich meadows and shrubs, it is a gift not only for people, but also for numerous animal and plant species.”

The redevelopment of the Anette-Kolb-Anlage in Nuremberg received the Bavarian Landscape Architecture Award 2024 for “Building in Existing Contexts and Circular Economy”. adlerolesch redesigned the existing green space here between 2020 and 2023. This was originally designed by Thiele in 1992. An active strip with bright blue accents features seating as well as a BMX track, a sports area and a play area. The planners developed an existing dry ditch into an extensive rest area and laid out a new, network-like path system. An open meadow area was only slightly adapted; the existing trees were preserved and added to. According to Theresa Ramisch’s laudatory speech, the park renovation by adlerolesch “impresses with an impressive understatement that is second to none”. The public award, which was open to public voting from July 8 to August 23, also went to the adlerolesch project in Nuremberg.

The Bürgerpark in Lindau, realized by Atelier Loidl, received the award in the category “Open spaces for people” at the Bavarian Landscape Architecture Prize 2024. The project was created in the context of a garden show 2021 in Lindau; the client was the city of Lindau, represented by Natur in Lindau 2021 GmbH. On the western side of the island in Lake Constance, “behind” the island railway station, is the Bürgerpark as part of a green ring around the island. A new set of steps now provides access to the lake here. The planners integrated existing features such as the existing trees, paths and visual axes. New features were also added, such as seating, playgrounds and sports facilities. Michel Hinnenthal writes in his laudation of the project: “The historical identity of the Bürgerpark is preserved, while modern elements are harmoniously integrated.” The jury considers the combination of old and new to be successful. According to Hinnenthal, it gives the park its unique character. The jury was impressed by the restrained design planning.

The award in the “Experimental Landscape Architecture and Building in Detail” category of the Bavarian Landscape Architecture Prize 2024 went to a project by LATZ+PARTNER LandschaftsArchitektur Stadtplanung. From 2016 to 2019, the office realized the open spaces of the Karoline Goldhofer daycare center in Memmingen. During the conversion of the building by heilergeider architekten und stadtplaner BDA and the design of the daycare garden, the existing building, vegetation and topography as well as the reuse of materials played a key role. The garden offers the children various adventure spaces, with exercise areas, sand and mud areas and more. Reused materials were also used in the open spaces, such as the roof tiles from the old villa and wood from felled trees. Children are taught how to work with recycled and used materials in the Reggio pedagogy-based daycare center. The building and garden are in harmony with this. As Daniel Oden writes in his laudatory speech, it makes you want to be a child again. Big and important questions about the use of resources and used materials are answered here in a playful way. The jury honored the daycare center’s outdoor facilities with an award as part of the Bavarian Landscape Architecture Prize 2024.

With the Bavarian Landscape Architecture Award, the bdla would like to honor projects and plans in Bavaria that are characterized by innovative, sustainable and climate-friendly outdoor and landscape spaces. Both new and existing projects are included. The bdla awarded the Bavarian Landscape Architecture Prize for the third time this year. In addition to the main prize, the jury awarded prizes in five categories. No award was given in a sixth category, “Green and Blue Infrastructure”. The Bavarian Chamber of Architects and the Bavarian Association of Gardening, Landscaping and Sports Facilities are involved in the Bavarian Landscape Architecture Award 2024 as cooperation partners. This year’s patron was the Bavarian State Minister for Housing, Construction and Transport, Christian Bernreiter.

Projects that had been completed in Bavaria in the last five years were eligible for the award. An international jury of experts, headed by bdla board member Doris Grabner, awarded the main prize and the awards from among 31 submissions. A pre-selection was followed by a second viewing round after a specialist journalist had inspected the projects. In this round, the jury decided on the winners. An online vote was held for the audience award. The competition for the Bavarian Landscape Architecture Prize takes place every two years. The next competition is scheduled for 2026.

First prize
Oberwiesenfeldpark, Munich
mahl gebhard concepts, Munich

Awards for
Landscape planning and landscape development
Waldnaab Chapel, Waldnaabaue
Brückner & Brückner Architekten GmbH, Tirschenreuth/Würzburg, and STADT LAND FANCK Landscape Architecture and Ecology, Tirschenreuth

Use of plants and biodiversity
North Park III Plattling
BEM Burkhardt | Engelmayer | Mendel Landscape Architects Urban Planners, Munich

Construction in existing buildings and circular economy
Renovation of Anette Kolb complex, Nuremberg
adlerolesch GmbH, Nuremberg/Munich

Open spaces for people
Lindau community park
Atelier Loidl Landschaftsarchitekten Berlin GmbH, Berlin

Experimental landscape architecture and building in detail
Karoline Goldhofer day care center, Memmingen
LATZ+PARTNER LandscapeArchitecture Urban Planning, Kranzberg

Audience Award
Renovation of Anette Kolb facility, Nuremberg
adlerolesch GmbH, Nuremberg/Munich

Find out which projects were nominated for the Bavarian Landscape Architecture Award 2024 here.

05.11.2024

Trick

App enables virtual expedition to the Jupiter Temple of Baalbek

Building design

The highlight of the app tour is a visit to the Temple of Jupiter at Baalbek with its 54-pillar ring hall. Photo: Screenshot Youtube — The highlight of the app tour is a visit to the Jupiter Temple of Baalbek with its 54-pillar ring hall. Photo: Screenshot YoutubeJupiter Temple of Baalbek with its 54-pillar ring hall. Photo: Screenshot Youtube

The famous temples of Baalbek, the ancient Heliopolis in Lebanon, are one of the largest Roman religious sites in the world and a World Heritage Site. The app “Baalbek Reborn. Temples” uses the latest technology to reconstruct the ruins

Who hasn’t wished to be able to view the modest architectural remains of Rome’s former greatness in all their architectural beauty? In the case of the imperial temples of Baalbek in Lebanon, this is now possible. Thanks to money from billionaire Bassam Alghanim, a virtual reality project has been set up to reconstruct the temple complex in its presumed original state.

An app with a 3D reconstruction enables a breathtaking tour of the most powerful sanctuary of the Roman Empire. Baalbek is one of the few settlements in the world that has been continuously inhabited for 10,000 years. Baalbek, the ancient Heliopolis, in the fertile Bekaa Plain in Lebanon, is famous today primarily for its temples from Roman times, which characterize the place. At 22.6 meters high, the six remaining columns of the Temple of Jupiter are the mightiest columns of the Roman Empire. But it is difficult to imagine what Roman life was like in the Levant 1,800 years ago.

This is about to change, because the free app “Baalbek Reborn. Temples” provides unprecedented insights into this fascinating architecture. The app was produced by Flyover Zone Productions from the USA and the German Archaeological Institute (DAI) in cooperation with the Department of Antiquities (DGA) of the Lebanese Ministry of Culture.

1800 years at the click of a mouse

It begins with an aerial view of Baalbek, near where the two Lebanese rivers Litani and Orontes rise. Baalbek is Aramaic and means “Lord of the Spring”. The Romans recognized its strategic importance and built the enormous sanctuary of Jupiter and other temples here, the largest temple complex in the entire Roman Empire. The app shows the city at the height of its power around 215 AD.

It is recommended that you first choose the half-hour tour to 38 points to familiarize yourself with the huge complex and the app. After that, you can jump around and browse as you please. The app works on two levels: It takes users to the actual excavation site, where DAI archaeologists have been working since 1998, and to the hypothetical reconstruction created by computer animation based on scientific documentation by the Flyover Zone team. It is usually possible to jump between the two levels – 1800 years with a click of the mouse.

Tip: Virtual reality, augmented reality and 3D modeling: museum4punkt0 brings together seven cultural institutions of different sizes and institutional profiles from all over Germany in a joint collaborative project. Innovative applications of digital technologies in museums are tested and evaluated in close cooperation. Find out more here.

15.01.2025

Trade

Mini stages the urban jungle

Building design

The Forests project at the London Design Festival was inspired by the Japanese term “shinrin yoku”: “immerse yourself in the forest with all your senses”.

Living space is becoming increasingly scarce and rents are skyrocketing, especially in the megacity of London. So-called third places – spaces between the home and the workplace, retreats on the threshold between private and public – are important meeting points in modern urban society. They extend the personal comfort zone and are used for relaxation, encounters and productivity.

The “Forests” project, launched as part of the London Design Festival, is located in the lively Shoreditch district in the heart of London. Initiated by the car brand “Mini“, it was created in cooperation with the London architect Asif Khan. It represents three interpretations of these in-between spaces. The basic idea behind all three spaces is inspired by the Japanese term “shinrin yoku”, which means “immerse yourself in the forest with all your senses”.

The Connect Space is a place for informal encounters and exchanges – whether spontaneous or planned. The center of the room is a long table that can accommodate up to 20 people. The Create Space, on the other hand, offers a pleasant atmosphere for focused work. A creative oasis – with furniture that can be arranged flexibly. The Relax Space welcomes visitors with an abundance of hanging plants. It offers space for retreat and invites you to relax. The installation shows a creative approach to improving the future quality of life in cities.

After the “Mini Living” installation, a modern home-sharing concept for this year’s Salone del Mobile in Milan, Mini is setting the next accent in terms of the future of living and working with the temporary Mini Living “Forests” pavilions.