Gardens across the Centuries

The magic of the park and the castle at the Schweriner See (Lake Schwerin) is created by the interplay of light, land, and water. In the new sections of the park the landscape is allowed to rediscover itself. Fields near the city are interpreted through design; the stylistic devices from this are then placed near the castle and further accentuated through design. Both changing and regular elements are composed in a series of rooms; the new lends contours to the old. Through the use of essential geometric references to the surrounding area, the park of the 21st century becomes a compelling element of the overall ensemble.

The novelty of the new elements is the result of their taking up and mirroring the old: Landscape architectural patterns have developed over the centuries, and these can be rediscovered by looking at different eras. Although this may all appear to be new – because it has not been used for so long – in reality much of it is quite traditional. The perception of ‘newness’ is dependent on the particular horizon of the present. Without representing a fallback to formality, the design idiom of a 21st-century garden should nonetheless continue to have a link to the history of garden design. The goal is the continuity of actuality. The park of the 21st century should be formal without losing its magic. It should be robust and yet leisure-oriented; it should shape local identity and be open for change while providing for stability, relaxation, and a wide variety of experiences.