Floating Gardens

The magic of light, cloud moods, and the reflections of the lake, "Magic Islands of the Gardeners" served as the slogan for the prominent feature of the Regional Garden Show Überlingen 2020.

  • DREISEITLconsulting GmbH
    Artistic Design, Urban Planning, Construction Supervision

    Location
    Überlingen, Lake Constance, Germany

    ClientLandesgartenschau Überlingen 2020 GmbH

    EngineerTechnus KG (GmbH & Co.)

    Garden Designers
    Paul Saum, Van Den Elzen Garden Design, Gartengestaltung Gropper, GRIMM garten gestalten GmbH

    TimelineDesign: 2018-2019
    Construction: 2020-2021

    Status
    Completed
    Visitorship: Approx. 700,000 people

    Publication
    Taspo Garten Design
    SÜDKURIER

    Photo Credits
    Achim Mende

Überlingen, with its 1,250-year history, has maintained a deep-rooted association with water. The city's affluence and success historically thrived on commerce and the transportation of goods across the lake. This garden exhibition marked a significant milestone as the first in a series of state horticultural shows in Baden-Württemberg, beginning in 1980, to be hosted in close proximity to a substantial international water body, namely, Lake Constance.

Inspired by a quote from Hermann Hesse—“the impossible must be attempted again and again”—artist and landscape architect Herbert Dreiseitl introduced the Floating Gardens. The design carefully accounts for the lake’s unpredictable weather, seasonal water fluctuations, and powerful waves, with planning informed by recent major storms. Positioned in front of the “Haus des Gastes,” the gardens are accessed by a jetty that leads to a semicircular platform, inviting visitors to pause and immerse themselves in the dynamic views of the lake.

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  • Before: the existing pathway runs lengthwise along the shoreline at the site on Lake Bodensee.

  • The Floating Gardens are arranged in a fan-shaped pattern on the lake, gently guiding visitors from the shore into the water's expanse to foster a deeper, rhythmic connection with the waves.

  • Conventional pontoons were temporarily leased for the Landesgartenschau event and subsequently reclaimed by the supplier or repurposed afterward.

  • The galvanized steel and plastic float structure, topped with wooden deck and dynamically jointed to adapt to water levels, features garden islands anchored near the jetty and enclosed with steel collars to protect Lake Constance's water quality.

  • The themes encompassing life and the immersive experience of the lake, alongside water conservation and sustainability, hold significant prominence in the concept of this endeavor.

  • Showcasing the latest trends in garden design, the 13 display gardens—nine on land and four pioneering accessible floating gardens—created by members of the VGL-BW form the artistic and educational centerpiece of the State Garden Show.

  • Artist Vision of The Floating Gardens

  • Cozy beanbag seating invites visitors to relax and contemplate the serene views from garden islands thoughtfully designed by the local VGL firms Heasum, van Elzen, Gropper, and Grimm.

  • The Landesgartenschau Überlingen project thoughtfully engaged with the site's history while offering visitors and residents a renewed connection to their city’s lakeside landscapes and gardens.