Germany
old and the new cemetery. This quadripartite build-
ing has a strict, almost monastic design.
The elevated level of the ‘grave islands’ has a func-
tional purpose: it was required by the very high
ground water table of the site. From the outside,
the enclosures present themselves as parts of the
landscape, as green and colourful, flowering sloped
berms. The upper level of each berm lies approxi-
mately 2.60m above the surrounding site. The land
within the berms is approximately 1.0m above the
level of the natural terrain. On the inside, the berm
slope is supported by the dry-laid gneiss stone
walls. The 1.50m-high walls provide the grave areas
with enclosure, yet still allow for distant views into
the landscape beyond.19, 20
Groves of different native tree species such as oaks
and hornbeams, cherries, pines and birches and
wild apples are planted very densely around the
edges, becoming less dense towards the inside of
each island. These groves give each of the grave
islands its own distinctive character.^21
The 13ha area of the cemetery extension now
represents an impressive synthesis of a gener-
ously designed park cemetery with spacious grassy
fields, lengthy pathways, individual fruit trees and
introverted burial islands. These islands display the
seemingly closed-off character of traditional church-
yards. The designers were successful in creating
spiritual places of tranquillity and introspection in
the middle of an urban park landscape.
4.33
The elevated level of the grave islands, the dry-laid
stone wall inside and the oligotrophic berm in the
background
4.34
The main linear pathway connecting the islands
4.35
Cherry tree grove, flowering in May
