Study Commission Merian Gardens Basel
Christoph Merian set up a large-scale agricultural business in 1842 that became the foundation of the Merian Gardens. After Merian’s death, the the property was transferred to a foundation and became part of the Botanical Garden. Thanks to Grün 80 the landscape space was transformed into a garden.
The garden, the agricultural area and the plant collection – all these elements still exist today. This special mix is the defining identity of the Merian Gardens. As the city has grown and developed, the significance of the gardens as a local recreation area has also increased. In this spirit, the idea is to uphold the guiding principles of the Merian Gardens, while the chosen path of moving from a landscape space to a garden is to be pursued further.
The study commission invites proposals for a guideline concept for Vorder Brüglingen and a design concept for individual sections. Fontana Landschaftsarchitektur works with landscape architect Stefan Rotzler, garden historian Claudia Moll and UrbanID, specialists in the city’s soundscape, to develop a concept that roots the gardens in the dynamic urbanity of our day as we cross the threshold of the digital age.