POLA’s intention for the redesign of the Palace Garden in Osnabrück was not to reconstruct but rather to create a new interpretation of this Baroque garden which enjoyed tremendous esteem among the nobility in its day. The landscape architects undertook the transformation of a type of garden that was once radically modern and well ahead of its time, because it was based on mathematical equilibrium and botanical harmony. Great importance was placed on the consideration of the listed parts of this historically significant garden and cultural asset. Attention was also paid to the ongoing use of the garden and its proper integration into the surroundings by means of pathway connections.

The visitor to the Palace Garden will witness a combination of playfulness and rigour in the treatment of the elements of nature, in a very Baroque fashion. The lightness of being is embodied by the almost choreographic presentation of the circular jeux d’eau that form the centrepiece of the new castle parterre. Several spouts located around the edges of the fountain area emphasise the Baroque character of the castle and its garden. The area itself is the focal and meeting point, inviting the visitors to play with the water, to talk to each other, or simply to enjoy the view of the Palace Garden.

One of the main objectives of the redesign was to prepare the park for the effects of climate change. Existing concrete surfaces were replaced with permeable surfaces, and more than 40 climate-resilient trees were planted. The greenery of the decorative flowerbeds was changed from work-intensive, unsustainable seasonal bedding to perennial herbaceous plants and grasses. Surface water is now drained exclusively into the adjacent lawns and planted areas, so rainwater is not released into the public sewer system any longer but used for watering the plants, with excess water percolating into the groundwater via natural infiltration.

Project Data

Landscape Architecture: POLA
Project Location: Osnabrück, Lower Saxony, Germany
Design year: 2017 – 2019
Year Built: 2020
Photographer: Hanns Joosten
Manufacturer of urban equipment: IFW Engineering Office for Water Technology
Manufacturer of playground equipment: Spiel-Bau GmbH