Einladungswettbewerb | 07/2022
Künstlerische Gestaltung Interkultureller Gedenkort auf dem Südfriedhof Leipzig
©Dr. Azra Aksamija
Mosaic of Coexistence
2. Preis
Preisgeld: 300 EUR
Kunst
Landschaftsarchitektur
Erläuterungstext
The project “Mosaic of Coexistence” offers dignified spaces for mourning, remembrance, and peaceful contemplation about existence and coexistence. Taking a stroll through the site, the visitors can experience four thematic gardens comprised of modular elements. These hexagonal elements are used as pavement, seating, planters, and other programming. The selection of plants, architectural elements, and materials in each garden offers various perspectives on the themes of life and death, commemoration, and cohabitation. The Garden of Senses translates the abstract notion of shared consciousness and “being one with nature” into an enhanced perception and awareness of plants, animals, and materials through the engagement of all senses. The design of the Garden of Peace contemplates the question of what constitutes the notions of the “local,” “homeland,” and “tradition” by incorporating various soil types and pigments, seeds, and quotes in languages and scripts referencing cultural traditions of Leipzig’s migrants, as well as bird houses for migrating birds passing through the region. The Garden of Remembrance includes mourning rituals from various religious and spiritual traditions around the world, such as candles, memory trees, poems, and prayers, highlighting the remembrance of the loved one as a shared experience. Finally, the Wild Garden, designed for use by the local plants and wild animals, deploys art and design to introduce more-than-human perspectives. The four gardens engage visitors on various scales–the scale of the individual, the family, the city of Leipzig, the nation(s), and the planetary community. All these scales come together in the overall plan in the form of a mosaic. While individual hexagonal units of the mosaic may be read as a reference to the various cultural traditions of the city’s immigrant population (i.e. Turkish or Russian traditions), the mosaic can also be seen as a metaphor for the demographic and cultural diversity of Leipzig.
Research-informed project aims
This proposal builds on the recent scholarly research about the various roles of cemeteries in the city, which informed the three objectives of the project:
1. Supporting mental health through semi-passive recreation: As an important part of cities’ greenery, cemeteries play an important role in the mental health and well-being of their citizens. The project builds on the restorative and recreational values of cemeteries to offer a place for slow and quiet activities, such as reading, having an outdoor lunch, meditating, and mourning.
2. Advancing pluralism through transcultural heritage: Cemeteries provide a space for the enactment and preservation of mourning rituals, which represent a form of intangible cultural heritage. As groups of various cultural backgrounds are visiting the Leipzig cemetery, the Mosaic of Coexistence will be a place where these rituals can be performed and preserved. By exposing visitors to various cultural rituals and perspectives on life and death, the project also aims to nurture pluralism and the integration of marginalized social groups through social acceptance of non-conventional activities.
3. Preserving Leipzig’s biodiversity in the environmental and cultural sense: Cemeteries represent an important green infrastructure of the city, acting as a reservoir of fresh air, pure nature, and wildlife. The project offers exciting opportunities for visitors to observe nature and wild animals, and to learn about local and immigrant plants. The design also aims to raise awareness of the cemetery’s own biodiversity and the migration of animals across the area. This environmental objective also supports the aims of peaceful cultural coexistence through the poetic metaphor of migrating birds and seeds, which take roots in Leipzig and contribute to the cultural diversity of the city.
Materials
On the pedestrian paths going to the main axis, the paving modules are made using galvanized steel frame as an underlay and mold, in which gravel, sand sit, and pigments from varied soil samples are used to form a compressed stabilized earth material. The top surfaces that are more prone to damage are treated with special chemicals for protection and to enhance durability. This technique has been tested and it is sufficiently durable for the purpose of a long-lasting public art installation. To highlight the intercultural dimensions of the project, each module includes at least four parts that depict diverse soil types from various nations. Vertical elements are constructed layer by layer using the logic of rammed earth building. Another critical aspect of material use is to emphasize the concept that the material is permeable and natural, as well as environmentally and sustainably, long-lasting, and one with nature, by using soil as the primary material.
Cost + Maintenance
The modular design allows for flexibility regarding budgetary needs. The ideas presented in the competition posters outline the maximum size of the project that can be realized within the provided budget. Following the prototyping phase, the scale of the project can be easily adjusted–the project would also function with a significant reduction of size and programming, should this be necessary or desired by the city. The modularity also supports future maintenance needs: Should certain modules get damaged, they could be easily replaced without having to replace the entire structure.
Beurteilung durch das Preisgericht
Der Entwurf schafft eine Art lebendige Vielfalt, die ästhetisch und inhaltlich einen deutlichen Kontrast zum Südfriedhof darstellt. Die Gestaltung ist kleinteilig, bunt und wirkt insgesamt überladen. Sie kollidiert mit der Bestattungskultur auf anderen Grabflächen. Trotzdem schafft es der Entwurf über seine Vielfalt und unterschiedlichste Angebote zur Mitgestaltung eine sehr breite Masse anzusprechen und die Vielfalt der Gesellschaft widerzuspiegeln - ein Garten „für alle“ zu sein. Das aktive Trauern über Tätigkeiten (Niederlegen von Blumen, Erinnerungsbaum, ...) schafft Identifikation und die Einbeziehung von Pflanzen und Tieren ist auf dem Südfriedhof gut vorstellbar. Angezweifelt wird die Nachhaltigkeit der Belagsgestaltung mit chemisch behandelten, komprimierten Erden sowie die Prüfbarkeit der Kostenaufstellung
©Dr. Azra Aksamija
©Dr. Azra Aksamija