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The town of Arnsberg has purchased two dilapidated
classicist summerhouses built in the period from
1822 to 1850 together with the surrounding grounds
and in this way preserved them from falling
further into ruin and eventual demolition. The two
houses are among the last of their kind from this
period in Westphalia.
The "Scape" landscape architects firm from
Düsseldorf was commissioned by the town of
Arnsberg to conduct an in-depth review of the
developmental options for the gardens together
with their houses in 2007. The findings of this
review underline the major potential of the
location.
One of the key findings of the study is that the
properties and unique heritage character which the
gardens and their summerhouses represent – as well
as the way in which landscape and garden culture
were understood at the time they were created –
are still clearly visible today. With its other
classicist buildings and their well-preserved
summerhouses that have been expertly restored in
line with the protected building regulations, this
architectural ensemble is a "one of a kind"
anywhere in the Westphalia.
The people of Arnsberg strongly support the
restoration of the summerhouses. More than 100
people came to the two construction site
inspections on July 29, 2008 and August 12 to find
out about the progress of restoration work (see
newspaper article). The Ruhrtalradweg cycle path
used by over 10,000 cycling tourists every year
runs along the western side of the summerhouses.
There are plans to install bicycle parking
facilities at the entrances to the gardens. This
will ensure that high numbers of visitors to the
town not only cycle past the grounds but also stop
to take a closer look at the summerhouses.
In July 2008, the Regional Association of
Westphalia-Lippe (LWL) named the two summerhouses
the "historic buildings of the month".
The restoration and subsequent garden design
projects are being financially supported by
various parties. Without the support of the
"Lebendige Stadt" Foundation, the Southern
Westphalia Chamber of Trade, the LWL and the North
Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Construction and
Transport, it would not have been possible to
implement this project.
Restoration of the historic "Twiete" and "Arme
Schulschwestern" summerhouses
The summerhouses are timber-framed and faced with
slate – as is typical for the region. Both houses
have their doors on the eastern side and therefore
invite visitors in the garden higher up to
approach and take a look inside. From the
threshold, the onlooker has a view of the garden,
a scenically landscaped piece of nature.
(see Profile of the restoration process or Garden
design)
The restoration of the summerhouses was completed
in October 2008, and work is now beginning on the
gardens. The aim is to achieve a restrained
reinterpretation of the original design intentions,
which can still be partially recognized.
The idea (see Annex) is to restore the dense
cluster of trees on the edge of the slope;
free-growing hedges will divide the grounds into
three sections: the "Twiete" summerhouse, the
"Arme Schulschwestern" summerhouse and the sloping
garden with viewing platform. The lines of sight
to the former live-in houses will be underscored
by the removal of any interfering vegetation. The
summerhouses with their splendid shrub beds mark
the end of the garden paths.
The garden fragments will be designed in
accordance with the assumed design of the original
gardens. The "Twiete" garden will be elegant and
open-plan, while the "Arme Schulschwestern" garden
will be more intimate, with an extended garden
plateau with just a few paths, lawn areas,
ornamental bushes and shrub beds.
Support for the project from the "Lebendige
Stadt" Foundation
The financial support of the "Lebendige Stadt"
Foundation makes it possible to devote special
attention to the access paths into the gardens and
the layout of the paths. They are an important
part of the overall concept and will be routed in
keeping with the historic nature of the gardens.
The surface of the paths will be in mastic asphalt
with beige-colored chipping; the paths themselves
will be lined with natural stone.
The steps to the "Arme Schulschwestern"
summerhouse will also be made of natural stone and
enclosed in an oval ante-space. The entrance area
will soon boast a high-quality plaster surface –
using stones from the river bed, for example –
that does justice to the historic setting.
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