European Garden Award 2010
Europese Tuinen Prijs 2010
On 6 September 2010 the European Garden Award in four categories was handed out by EGHN and Schloss Dyck Foundation, Centre for Garden Art and Landscape Culture as
the project lead of EGHN.
The European Garden Award focuses on more than just spectacular
garden art or well-maintained herbaceous borders. According to the traditions of
EGHN and based on its objectives and specific skills and experiences, the award
follows a broader approach.
Consequently, different professions and skills have
been represented within the jury too (R. Arnold, E. Bennis, H.-D. Collinet, G.
Ericson, K. von Krosigk, S. Lenzen, A. Thornley).
Nominations have been based on innovative implementation and
management, on urban development aspects, on sustainability, on good visitor
services or voluntary work as well as on high quality of restoration or modern
design of a park or garden. The finalists and winners are sought after as
inspirational and as models for other projects.
Read more about the winners and finalists of the European Garden
Award in these four categories:
• International EGHN Award
Category 1: Best Development of
a Historic Park or Garden
 TRENTHAM ESTATE – THE NEW AND OLD TRENTHAM
GARDENS
The award for Trentham Estate in Stoke-on-Trent (UK)
honours a project that as no other in the UK and as only very few in Europe has
restored an almost lost heritage garden (by Capability Brown, Charles Barry) ,
created a subtle mix with contemporary garden art (Tom Stuart-Smith, Piet
Oudolf) and achieved enormous urban, social and economic effects. In
Stoke-on-Trent, hurt by industrial decline and change, about 100 million Euros
were invested since 1996 to develop a new leisure and tourism destination, with
Trentham Gardens as its centrepiece.
 There is no doubt that this development, totally financed
by private investors only (St Modwen Properties, Willi and Thomas Reitz) has a
strong economic focus, to be seen by shopping village, hotels, garden centre
etc.). The gardens, managed by Michael Walker, have their benefits: excellent
maintenance, attractive new designs and events.
Tom Stuart-Smith modified
the character of the formal Italian garden giving it a modern flair and allure
by introducing about 200.000 “contemporary” plants. Piet Oudolf created, in his
typical “handwriting”, a prairie of grasses and herbaceous plants along the
river Trent – offering retreats for visitors as well as paying attention on
occasional flooding. Furthermore Trentham Gardens are very actively fostering
social inclusion and cooperation with local people and are an important job and
training resource.
More information: Website of EGHN and Website of Trentham Estate
Other
finalists: Sofiero (Sweden),
Schloss Hof
(Austria)
Category 2: Most Innovative
Contemporary Park or Garden
 MFO-PARK – URBAN SPACE IN A NARROW FABRIC – A
TRANSFERABLE MODEL
A unique, urban space was opened in 2002 in
Zurich on the former site of MaschinenFabrik Oerlikon, the factory giving the
name MFO. Designed in cooperation by architects Burckhardt + Partners and
Raderschall Landscape Architects AG, MFO-Park is a precise architectural body of
100 meters length, 35 meters width and 17 meters height. This steel structure,
like a conservatory without glass, gets its specific shape and texture from the
foliage of different climbing plants.
The "building" is filled by ever chaging light, shadow and smells. Balconies
and platforms at different levels, including the roof, invite visitors to a
three dimensional walk and to a rest with stunning views. The shaded ground
level, structured by a small pond and climbing structures is open for different
uses such as events, sport and play.
In addition to this unique design and overwhelming acceptance, MFO Park
qualifies as the winner in this category as the park exemplifies how public
realm in narrow urban quarters can be enlarged. Finally, the jury understand the
decision of the City of Zurich for the MFO-park as an early and forward-thinking
answer to climate change: sustainable design and maintenance of green spaces,
facades and roofs offering comfort and high quality outdoor activities (e.g.
cool and shaded shelters).
More information: Website
of the city of Zurich
Other finalists: CarlAlexanderPark
(Germany), Parc de Diagonal-Mar
(Spain)
Category 3: Special Award of the
Schloss Dyck Foundation
FOUNDATION
FOR HISTORIC GARDENS IN LOWER SAXONY - CIVIC COMMITMENT IN SUPPORT OF GARDEN
HERITAGE
Many of the more than thousand parks and gardens of
heritage value in Lower Saxony (Germany) are facing an uncertain future. Many
owners, if left on their own, will be unable to maintain the sites or all the
valuable elements and structures. To support these owners, to facilitate
exchange and advice and to raise public awareness, the Niedersächsische
Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung Historischer Gärten was founded in
1994.
 To
further raise the profile, to enable additional activities and to give financial
support, the Foundation for Historic Gardens in Lower Saxony (Stiftung
Historische Gärten in Niederschsen) was set up in 1997. The Foundation directly
and indirectly supports and finances restoration work in well selected parks and
gardens of heritage value. One of the main objectives of the foundation is to
guarantee high quality and sustainability of all investments made in historic
gardens. The list of measures that the foundation contributed to includes the
parks at Gut Walshausen, Gut Remeringhausen, Schloss Wrisbergholzen, Rittergut
Westerbrak and Gutspark Eckerde.
More information:
Website of the
Foundation
Other finalists:
Domaine de
Chaumont-sur-Loire (France), Tatton Park Biennial
(U.K.)
Category 4: International EGHN
Award
 HIGH
LINE – A GREEN CORRIDOR IN THE METROPOLITAN DENSENESS
Two friends
once had a dream: to convert a derelict, rusted and monstrous railway line midst
of Manhattan into a public park - in spite of permanent budget holes in New York
City. 10 years later the dream has become reality: Like a green carpet the High
Line Park now rolls out in the urban canyons of the metropolis. On the elevated
rail track, accessible by staircases and elevators, a multitude of plantings,
pathways and sitting areas are inviting visitors for a walk and a rest. Flâneurs
enjoy inside and outside views on streets and buildings, views on the Hudson and
its piers as well as cultural events.
 There are other examples for turning former railway tracks
into green corridors since more than 20 years, in Paris and in the Ruhr
Metropolis for instance. But never before such a transfer, such new design and
new use were implemented in such a spectacular and meticulous manner. Never
before the citizens not only benefit from a comparable project but – as the
Friends of the High Line - also initiated it and are now responsible for the
measures and the management of the park in close cooperation with the city of
New York. No other park of that style, even not in Paris, attracted so many
visitors in such a short period of time and has developed to such a major
tourist attraction as the High Line Park did.
The members of the jury of the European Garden Award were so
fascinated by the history, development and success of the High Line that they
decided to originate an “International EGHN Award” allowing awarding such
exceptional projects even outside Europe. Shortly after their decision to give
the award to the first section (2,5 km) of High Line, the city of New York
agreed to support the enlargement of the High Line. Now the Friends of the High
Line need to find a substantial amount of donations and sponsoring to ensure
both the implementation of the new section and the maintenance of the quality of
the park whose overwhelming success and visitors numbers have not been expected
at all. Donations from Europe are welcome!
More information: Website of
the Friends of the High Line
Photo credits: Trentham Estate
(2), Raderschall LA, Stadt Zürich, NGEHG (2), Wikipedia (2)
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