The Oriental-Islamic Garden in the ‘Gardens of the World’ in Marzahn
Alongside previously completed Chinese, Japanese and Balinese gardens, the oriental-Islamic Garden (‘Garden of Four Rivers’) at Marzahn’s recreational park makes an additional contribution to intercultural dialogue.
This garden stands for those of various countries, from North Africa to India, that are associated with Islam. With the description of paradise in the Koran, the garden became an important element of Islamic culture. The design was based on basic ancient Persian forms that were subject to regional modifications. Accordingly, the ‘Garden of Four Rivers’ was developed for the specific location in Marzahn based on general, representative principles that remain valid for various national cultures.
An Islamic garden is a place of harmony, a terrestrial paradise. Geometry and proportions are symbols of unity, order, the concentration of space around the source, or ‘life.’ These are just as important as architectural forms of expression (pavilions, towers, basic garden elements).
The ‘oriental-Islamic garden’ in Marzahn is a garden courtyard (Riyad): plantings are surrounded by a wall, arcades and vestibule, for the oasis, the hidden source or ‘paradise,’ is often not directly visible. The ‘Garden of Four Rivers’ is quadripartite in layout, with waterworks and a fountain basin standing at the centre inside a pavilion.
Project Data
Landscape architecture: Kamel Louafi
Project location: Berlin, Germany
Year completed: 2005
Photo credits: Kamel Louafi
Employees and Planning Partners and Companies:
Lamel Louafi, with
Dörte Eggert, Patrick Bairstow, Günter Maser, Frank Scharping, Marc Pouzol, Laurent Dugua, Sabrina Schröder, Maren Brakebusch, Milena Jeschke, Günter Maser
Planning Partners:
Static and engineering: Peter Jockwer 1948 -2022
Water technic: Joachim Kudlek
Companies: Unibau / Potsdam, Richert und Borchert, Andalous Design / Fes Marrocco, Schumann / Berlin, Steinmetz Güldasch
