DOCSLIB.ORG

The Italian Garden Influence Within the Development of Garden Design in the Czech Lands (Bohemia and Moravia)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Italian Garden Influence Within the Development of Garden Design in the Czech Lands (Bohemia and Moravia) ACTA UNIVERSITATIS AGRICULTURAE ET SILVICULTURAE MENDELIANAE BRUNENSIS Volume 65 158 Number 5, 2017 https://doi.org/10.11118/actaun201765051543 THE ITALIAN GARDEN INFLUENCE WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT OF GARDEN DESIGN IN THE CZECH LANDS (BOHEMIA AND MORAVIA) Zora Kulhánková1 1 Department of Garden and Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic Abstract KULHÁNKOVÁ ZORA. 2017. The Italian Garden Influence Within the Development of Garden Design in the Czech Lands (Bohemia And Moravia). Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 65(5): 1543 – 1556. This article puts the Czech garden into the context of the development of garden design in Europe. Although it has not been defined as a garden type, it has always reflected new directions and modified them in line with geographical and cultural differences. The selected examples illustrate the development of garden art in the Czech lands from the 16th to the 18th century with an emphasis on Italian patterns and Italian artists. There are gardens that took the morphology of the Italian garden – they were built in slopes, their architecture uses terraces and stairs, dynamic water is used or some building elements typical of the Italian garden. The information provided exemplify the great influence of Italian culture in the Czech lands, which got there directly with Italian artists and builders. Keywords: history of garden design, Czech historic garden, Italian garden INTRODUCTION Europe as a whole has been researched in detail and described in professional literature. It is known that Within the development of garden design in individual types of gardens affect the development Europe, the Italian garden is the most prominent of garden art in other countries, where the rules type of garden, which affected the whole Europe of the type are adapted to the local cultural and as well as the development of other types of geographical conditions. This study provides gardens, such as French, English or Dutch gardens. a comprehensive overview on the influence of Its history dates back to ancient Rome, but the Italian garden as a type on the development of the largest growth of the Italian garden came in garden design in the Czech lands. th the 15 century, in the period of the Renaissance. The main objective of this paper is to document The principles of architecture as a whole were that the influence of the Italian garden on garden defined, including the garden, which was an design in the Czech lands was direct, came with integral part of the buildings, and so it also took Italian artisans and reflected the climatic and on their morphology. The Italian garden also cultural conditions of the host environment. reflects the principles of Renaissance philosophy, Selected examples of historic gardens show that the respect for the order given by nature. The Italian the principles of the Italian garden crossed the Alps garden tells the story using a sophisticated system of and how they were modified or how they merged symbols and mythological characters. with other garden types. No defined garden type has evolved in the Czech lands (for the purposes of the article meaning Bohemia and Moravia). However, the Czech MATERIALS AND METHODS environment has always received and transformed The author has extensively studied the topic of the other types of gardens which influenced the Italian garden – both the literary sources and the development of garden design in Europe. surveys in situ. The first step was a literature review History and development of garden design in of the topic, which included both Czech and Italian 1543 1544 Zora Kulhánková sources. The next step was to find examples of Czech well as gardens and landscapes under this influence gardens that demonstrate the use of the Italian (Kofroňová, 2000). garden principles. The following steps were the necessary photo documentation of the selected The Renaissance garden in the Czech lands objects, including their location in the landscape The relationship of the Czech lands and Italy or settlement, and the analysis of the compositional in the modern history began to shape in the 14th elements in relation to the objectives of the study. century, when King Charles IV became the Emperor The examples show the influence of the Italian and Czech King. Charles had personal ties with Italy garden on the development of garden design in and his politics made him very famous throughout the Czech lands. the Roman Empire. Some Italian intellectuals saw him as its saviour and asked him to move RESULTS to Rome. However, Charles remained in Prague and thanks to him humanism and Italian culture Historical Gardens in Bohemia and Moravia began to penetrate the Czech lands (Pludek, 1978). (Dokoupil et al.,1957) is a publication that deals with Unfortunately, the 15th century was marked by the development of garden design in the Czech the Hussite wars, so a new wave of construction lands from fine art historians’ perspective. Chapter came to the Czech lands as late as with Vladislaus II Renaissance garden describes the path of the Italian the Jagiellonian (1490–1516). garden to the Czech lands, and the authors mention The biggest development of the Renaissance the fact that “... the garden design was not affected occurred after the accession of the Habsburgs by the Renaissance as directly as the architecture.” to the Czech throne. The first ruler was (Dokoupil et al.,1957) Garden is described as Ferdinand I (1503–1564), who was enchanted by a representative place of relaxation in buildings the Renaissance. He invited Italian architects to help which were supposed to link the house with with the construction of the gardens at the Prague the garden. “However, while in Italy the Renaissance Castle. Roughly from the mid‑16th century, a large created a direct link of the two elements, the house number of Italian artisans came to Prague as well and the garden did not affect each other as much as generally to all the territories north of the Alps. in the Czech lands and they partially remained Most of them came from northern Italy, the areas in the medieval seclusion.” (Dokoupil et al.,1957) around Lakes Como and Lugano, therefore they The Czech garden developed the most during were referred to as artisti dei laghi in the literature the Baroque era, when “the environment of (Macek et al., 2015). The first city the pilgrims over the Italian artistic opinion had not disappeared, but the Alps came to was Innsbruck in Austria. It met with a new French perspective....” (Dokoupil et became the point of the clash of cultures, a place al.,1957) Publication Significant parks of the South where the Middle Ages and the Renaissance merged. Moravian region (Kříž, et al.,1978) brings another The Habsburgs, who fled there from Vienna from view of the garden design development in the Turks, had their headquarters there in 1533– the Czech lands. It was published on the occasion 43. The future Archduke Ferdinand II, called of international symposium “Historical Gardens of the Tyrolean, grew up there. Sons of the Czech the Present” in cooperation with ICOMOS‑IFLA. nobility went to Innsbruck to be educated on Other publications provide overviews of historic the court etiquette. Ferdinand II also governed gardens, they are usually collective studies and their the Czech lands so he settled in Prague for some introductions contain historical summaries, e.g., time. The Renaissance culture and humanism then Gardens and parks in Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia spread to the Czech lands from Prague. (Pacáková and Petrů, 2004). A brief introduction to One of the first of the nobles who adapted their the history of the Czech garden also appears in Karel residences in compliance with the new directions Hieke’s book Czech palace parks and their woody were primarily those that were close to the royal plants (Heike, 1984). There has been no publication court. For example, Jan the Younger of Lobkowicz that would separately deal with the influence of obtained Horšovský Týn from Ferdinand I and the Italian garden on the development of gardens in he had the palace and the garden rebuilt in 1547. the Czech lands; however, Professor Luigi Zangheri, His son Kryštof had the first Czech Santa“ Casa” in his book History of the garden and landscape. built in 1584 after he brought the design from his Vegetation in the Western culture (Zangheri, 2003) way to Loreto, Italy. The greatest builders of this quite extensively explores the topic of the Tuscan period were the powerful Lords of the Rose, who garden in the Czech lands. The influence of Italian owned large plots of land in Southern Bohemia (the culture on the Czech lands has been a subject of Rosenbergs) and in South‑Western Moravia (the several publications by Jarmila Krčálová (1974; Lords of Hradec), further the Lords of Pernštejn, 1986; 1988). In 2000, Opus italicum exhibition was the Lords of Žerotín, etc. A typical construction held at the Prague Castle. It presented the influence element of this period was the arcade courtyard, as of Italian architecture in the Czech Republic. a fancy contrast to the relatively simple architecture The guide to the exhibition provided a brief but of the palace. comprehensive summary of significant buildings as The Italian Garden Influence Within the Development of Garden Design in the Czech Lands… 1545 1: Belvedere Summer Palace. (author, 2017) The Habsburgs lodges (Lány and Hlavenec) and the Emperor The first Habsburg builder was Emperor had a stud farm built in Kladruby (1579). There Ferdinand I, who invited a group of Italians to Prague was a large proportion of Italians involved in so that they could modify the royal seat in the new the construction works; they were settled in Prague spirit of the Renaissance.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Kunstkammer Wien a Selection of Important
    KUNSTKAMMER WIEN A SELECTION OF IMPORTANT OBJECTS „Krumau Madonna“ Prague (?), c. 1400 Sandstone, cloak originally white and blue, hair and edge of clothes gilt Provenance: acquired in 1913 for the Imperial Collections Kunsthistorisches Museum, Kunstkammer, Inv-no. KK 10156 This sculpture was discovered around 1900 in Krumau in southern Bohemia. It is a perfect example of the „beautiful Madonnas“ so popular in the art around 1400. The Virgin with Child is shown as both the Queen of Heaven and a loving mother. Characteristics of courtly refinement, such as the rich and heavy drapery, idealised features and her gilt hair, are combined with verisimilitude, e.g. the body of the baby. This Gothic masterpiece is clearly informed by the art at the court in Prague. Salt Cellar (Saliera) Benvenuto Cellini (Florence 1500 – 1571 Florence) Paris, made between 1540 and 1543 Gold, partly enamelled; ebony, ivory, Provenience: from the Kunstkammer of Archduke Ferdinand II of Tirol at Ambras; presented to the Archduke by King Charles IX of France in 1570 Kunsthistorisches Museum, Kunstkammer, Inv-no. KK 881 The only extant goldsmith work by the celebrated Renaissance artist, Benvenuto Cellini, perfectly reflects the refined taste of contemporary courtly society. We know it served as a container for the expensive spices, salt and pepper, but the complex pictorial programme culminates in an allegory of the cosmos (complete with the god of the ocean and the goddess of the earth, animals, the four winds and the four times of the day) dominated by the arms and emblems of the patron who commissioned it, Francois I of France (ruled 1515-1547).
    [Show full text]
  • How to Install a Hidden Water Fountain
    How To Install A Hidden Water Fountain Detailed techniques and tips for installing a water feature in your yard. By: Robert Robillard © AConcordCarpenter.com All Rights Reserved How To Install A Hidden Water Fountain Introduction: Disappearing fountains, statues, vases and rock fountains are becoming popular backyard focal points. Just go to any garden shop and you’ll see dozens of options of for Koi ponds, waterfalls and basin fountains. Installing a disappearing or hidden basin water fountain does not take up as much space as a waterfall or Koi pond but still gives you that bubbling water sound and great looking landscape focal point. With a disappearing fountain, water is pumped from a hidden reservoir buried in the ground through and out a fountain standpipe, the water then overflows the basin rim seemingly disappearing into the ground. Installing a hidden or disappearing water fountain is a great DIY project and a way to add that incredibly relaxing sound of moving water to a patio, pool or flower garden area. How To Install A Hidden Water Fountain Safety Information It's very likely that you'll choose to use power tools and a propane torch for this project. Power tools can cause serious injury or death so be VERY careful. Before you use any power tool it's very important that you carefully read all of the manufacturers operating instructions and safety guidelines. If you don't feel comfortable using power tools it's imperative that you stop and find that confidence through practice. This eGuide does not offer advice on how to safely use the tools featured in it.
    [Show full text]
  • Photo Sessions at Phipps
    Photo Sessions at Phipps OUTDOOR GARDEN – One large garden made up of many smaller gardens, provides approximately one acre of outdoor tranquility. The Outdoor Garden includes a perennial garden, a collection of dwarf conifers, a border of flowering plants, annuals, semi-shade plants, medicinal plants and an herb garden. Outdoor Garden Photo Session - $350 One-hour private use of Outdoor Garden for photo session Available: Monday through Friday, Sunday (Saturdays before 10 a.m.); May through October BRODERIE ROOM – The Parterre de Broderie, a small scale of the gardens of the chateaux, castles and palaces of French nobility in the time of Louis XIV, is home to Italian cypress trees, an Italian wellhead and bronze Edmund Ameteis maiden statues. Broderie Photo Session - $300 45-minute use of the Parterre de Broderie for photo session Up to 16 allowed in garden area Available: Monday through Sunday JAPANESE GARDEN – An intimate outdoor space with authentic Japanese stone work and a beautiful water feature and pond. Japanese Garden Photo Session - $300 45-minute use of the Japanese Garden for photo session Available: Monday through Thursday, Saturday and Sunday (6 p.m. – 11 p.m.); May through October Other spaces available after business hours based on availability. PHOTOGRAPHY POLICY Phipps Conservatory encourages photography and the use of video cameras for personal use only. Please reserve a room for private/commercial photo sessions (includes wedding and engagement photography, family portraits, modeling shoots, media documentation, and images to be used for resale in any form). Certain day/time restrictions apply when renting a space. Please contact the Events Department at 412-315-0685to check availability.
    [Show full text]
  • LANDSCAPING with WATER FEATURES by Ed Dillingham
    LANDSCAPING WITH WATER FEATURES By Ed Dillingham dam Tucker, with Fantasy Falls and Water Gardens, provided a thought provoking discussion on the many aspects of water features Aas a landscaping option at the May 2 meeting of Master Gardeners at Grace United Methodist Church. Adam has been in the water landscaping business for over 15 years and, being an installer of these systems, knows the business from the ground up, literally. There are many types of water features, including plain water ponds; waterfalls with ponds; pondless waterfalls; bubbling rocks, fountains and animal charac- ter spitters; and any combinations of these. (He doesn’t do little boy statues peeing in the pond. That’s your little grandson’s job!) One of the first considerations needs to be the location of the water feature. The location should be where you spend most of your time – indoors or out- doors, close to a window overlooking the feature or beside a deck. You should really place you water feature where you can enjoy it the most. Also, consider access to the area for installation of the water feature and access to the water and electricity supply for lighting and pumps. Another consideration is the needs of any plants you want in and around the water feature as far as shade, sun or partial shade requirements. Finally, consider drainage, both from excess rainwater accumulations and the release of water for maintenance purposes including water quality con- trol. Before making any final decisions, a professional should be hired to guide the owner in making good decisions on what works, what doesn’t work and the estimated costs.
    [Show full text]
  • Adriaen De Vries
    E DUVEEN BROTHERS Paris Library Class No. Stock No. ::::::::::::::::::::::: FROM THE LIBRARY OF { <=*Puveen d^fyroiliers, C^Jnc. 720 FIFTH AVE. NEW YORK O/o. /^l M BOUNQ BY S.Georoe Street, MANCHESTER S?W. BEITRÄGE ZUR KUNSTGESCHICHTE NEUE FOLGE. XXV. I ADRIAEN DE VRIES VON CONRAD BUCHWALD O MIT ACHT TAFELN O LEIPZIG VERLAG VON E. A. SEEMANN 1899. Dem Andenken MEINER MUTTER Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014 https://archive.org/details/adriaendevriesOObuch Inhalt Seite I. Einleitung I II. Lehrzeit io III. In Augsburg 14 IV. In Diensten Rudolfs II 32 V. Arbeiten für den Fürsten Ernst von Schaumburg 63 VI. Die Brunnen für Fredriksborg und Danzig 74 VII. Aufträge Wallensteins 83 VIII. Schluss 92 IX. Verzeichnis von Werken des Adriaen de Vries 98 Anmerkungen 104 I Einleitung Ein glücklicher Fund war die Veranlassung zu vorliegender Arbeit. In der Kirche des Dorfes Rothsürben unweit Breslaus entdeckte ich zufällig ein gänzlich unbekanntes Werk des Adriaen de Vries. Adriaen de Vries hat keinen Namen in der Kunstgeschichte. Aeltere Nachrichten, die sich über ihn hier und da finden, sind dürftig, auch nicht frei von Widersprüchen und Fehlern. Karl van Mander erwähnt ihn kurz an einzelnen Stellen seines Schilder- buchs, Sandrart bringt zuerst eine Art von Biographie des Künstlers. Er giebt als dessen Geburtsort „Gravenhaag" an und erzählt, dass er „von der Natur selbst zum Bildhauer angetrieben sehr viele Lebens- grosse Bilder von Stein, Wachs und Erden gemacht, solche auch hernachmals in Metall gegossen und sich durch die stete Uebung mehr als kein anderer zu seiner Zeit in Ruhm gebracht, wie dieses seine sehr lobwürdige Werke erstlich in Italien allwo er die Antiken aufs genaueste ergründet an Tag legen, dann er in der Akademie zu Florenz immerzu der beste gewesen".
    [Show full text]
  • Garden and Park Structures Listing Selection Guide Summary
    Garden and Park Structures Listing Selection Guide Summary Historic England’s twenty listing selection guides help to define which historic buildings are likely to meet the relevant tests for national designation and be included on the National Heritage List for England. Listing has been in place since 1947 and operates under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. If a building is felt to meet the necessary standards, it is added to the List. This decision is taken by the Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). These selection guides were originally produced by English Heritage in 2011: slightly revised versions are now being published by its successor body, Historic England. The DCMS‘ Principles of Selection for Listing Buildings set out the over-arching criteria of special architectural or historic interest required for listing and the guides provide more detail of relevant considerations for determining such interest for particular building types. See https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/principles-of- selection-for-listing-buildings. Each guide falls into two halves. The first defines the types of structures included in it, before going on to give a brisk overview of their characteristics and how these developed through time, with notice of the main architects and representative examples of buildings. The second half of the guide sets out the particular tests in terms of its architectural or historic interest a building has to meet if it is to be listed. A select bibliography gives suggestions for further reading. This guide looks at buildings and other structures found in gardens, parks and indeed designed landscapes of all types from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century.
    [Show full text]
  • The RHS Lindley Library IBRARY L INDLEY RHS, L
    Occasional Papers from The RHS Lindley Library IBRARY L INDLEY RHS, L VOLUME NINE DECEMBER 2012 The history of garden history Cover illustration: Engraved illustration of the gardens at Versailles, from Les Jardins: histoire et description by Arthur Mangin (c.1825–1887), published in 1867. Occasional Papers from the RHS Lindley Library Editor: Dr Brent Elliott Production & layout: Richard Sanford Printed copies are distributed to libraries and institutions with an interest in horticulture. Volumes are also available on the RHS website (www. rhs.org.uk/occasionalpapers). Requests for further information may be sent to the Editor at the address (Vincent Square) below, or by email (brentelliottrhs.org.uk). Access and consultation arrangements for works listed in this volume The RHS Lindley Library is the world’s leading horticultural library. The majority of the Library’s holdings are open access. However, our rarer items, including many mentioned throughout this volume, are fragile and cannot take frequent handling. The works listed here should be requested in writing, in advance, to check their availability for consultation. Items may be unavailable for various reasons, so readers should make prior appointments to consult materials from the art, rare books, archive, research and ephemera collections. It is the Library’s policy to provide or create surrogates for consultation wherever possible. We are actively seeking fundraising in support of our ongoing surrogacy, preservation and conservation programmes. For further information, or to request an appointment, please contact: RHS Lindley Library, London RHS Lindley Library, Wisley 80 Vincent Square RHS Garden Wisley London SW1P 2PE Woking GU23 6QB T: 020 7821 3050 T: 01483 212428 E: library.londonrhs.org.uk E : library.wisleyrhs.org.uk Occasional Papers from The RHS Lindley Library Volume 9, December 2012 B.
    [Show full text]
  • The Wallenstein Portrait Gallery
    THE WALLENSTEIN PORTRAIT GALLERY IN THE CHEB MUSEUM A Catalogue of the Permanent Exhibition Cheb 1999 CONTENTS Introduction 5 Eva Dittertová The Wallenstein tradition at the Cheb Museum 7 Eva Dittertová Foreword to the opening of the exhibition, July 27th 1998 8 Danuta Učníková The Wallensteins 10 Stanislav Kasík The family portrait gallery 19 Pavel Blattný Notes on the choice and ordering of the paintings 23 Pavel Blattný The catalogue 25 Pavel Blattný Appendices: The 1749 inventory of paintings from Mnichovo Hradiště château 60 Specialist terms 62 Pavel Blattný Analogies, models, variations 65 Pavel Blattný Lucas van Valckenborch 73 Pavel Blattný Frans Luycx 74 Pavel Blattný 3 INTRODUCTION Eva Dittertová The departure point for the creation of this catalogue was the thesis completed by Pavel Blattný for the Institute of Art History of the Philosophical Faculty of Charles University, Prague, in 1997. His theme was somewhat wider, of course, being concerned with the problematique of the development of the representa- tive, noble portrait in full length in Central Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries, and the family gallery of forebears. The Wallenstein Collection served in this thesis as an example of the complex problems that such galleries of family forebears present in terms of Baroque historicism in Bohemia. The first demonstrable Wallenstein „family gallery“ is mentioned at Duchcov in 1731, the second at Mnichovo Hradiště in 1749; the latter ran to 16 pictures, and it is interesting that of the rich choices available among the members of the Wallenstein family, it covers virtually the same range as the Cheb collection (see the 1749 inventory from Mnichovo Hradiště).
    [Show full text]
  • Breezy Acres
    Thursday, April 30, 2020 The Versailles Republican Page 5 A lesson in building a backyard retaining wall Flat, even landscapes are tions seem beyond the scope often coveted in backyards. of your ability, installation However, flat backyards are of a retaining wall is a job not always so easy to find. best left to a professional. If Fortunately, varied terrain you are ready to forge ahead, does not mean that certain these tips can get you started. landscaping plans are entire- However, it’s important to ly off limits, especially for note the potential benefits homeowners willing to build of working with others who retaining walls. have already built a retaining Retaining walls help turn wall. steep slopes in a yard into • Safety first: Call to have terraced focal points. They underground utilities plotted also can reduce soil erosion and marked before beginning in hilly areas and can be used any excavation. for aesthetic purposes, like • Map out your trench raised planters, or to create and begin to dig. The trench more usable space within the should have a level, compact- yard. When an inground pool ed base as it will be the foun- or pond is cut into a backyard dation for which the retain- hill, a retaining wall helps ing wall materials, be they keep the remaining portion of blocks, bricks or wood, sit that hill from collapsing into in. A crushed stone base will the cut-away area. help anchor the courses and When contemplating re- serve to promote drainage. taining wall projects, a lesson The Family Handyman says vises the home improvement gravity by setting the second gradual step-up design may increase the weight of the in physics and engineering to bury the first course of the retailer Lowes®.
    [Show full text]
  • E PARK of RUNDĀLE PALACE the Grounds of Rundāle Palace Ensemble Amount to Shuvalov Ordered Chestnut Tree Alleys to Be Planted the Eighteenth Century
    LAYOUT OF THE RUNDĀLE PALACE BAROQUE GARDEN 20 20 !e Park 14 14 of Rundāle Palace 15 16 19 11 12 18 13 17 5 6 9 8 8 7 10 4 3 2 2 1 Entrance 1 Ornamental parterre 2 Rose garden Ticket o"ce 3 Collection of peonies 4 Blue Rose Garden Information 5 Picnic Area 6 Bosquet of Decorative Souvenirs Fruit Trees Exhibition 7 Blue Bosquet 8 Bosquets of Lilacs Study room 9 Dutch Bosquet 10 Green Theatre Indoor plants 11 Bosquet of Lilies 12 Memorial Bosquet Café 13 Oriental Bosquet Drinking water 14 Bosquets of Blooming Trees and Shrubs Toilets 15 Golden Vase Bosquet 16 Bosquet of Hydrangeas 17 Water Fountain Bosquet 18 Playground Bosquet 19 Labyrinth Bosquet 20 Promenade Bosquets in a formative stage RUNDĀLES PILS MUZEJS Pilsrundāle, Rundāles novads, LV-3921, Latvija T. +371 63962274, +371 63962197, +371 26499151, [email protected], www.rundale.net © Rundāles pils muzejs, 2018 The location map of Rundāle Palace The baroque garden of Rundāle Palace Climbing-rose arcade Pavilion in the Picnic Area Pavilion in the Oriental Bosquet Memorial Bosquet by Rastrelli, 1735/1736 THE PARK OF RUNDĀLE PALACE The grounds of Rundāle Palace ensemble amount to Shuvalov ordered chestnut tree alleys to be planted the eighteenth century. Donations made by visitors have to reconstruct it in order to nurture plants required for 85 hectares including the French baroque garden which beside the palace, yet the last remnants of theses alleys made it possible to build both a historical seesaw and the garden as well as to provide winter storage for covers 10 hectares and fully retains its original layout were removed in 1975.
    [Show full text]
  • Water Features | James Corner Field Operations with Fluidity
    TONGVA PARK + KEN GENSER SQUARE Water Features | James Corner Field Operations with Fluidity Each of the three water features within Tongva Park and Ken Genser Square share a strong connection to the site’s historic “arroyo wash” landscape and are carefully integrated into park topography. Connected by a single runnel, the features expand in scale, activity level, and sound as they fl ow downhill toward the ocean. The features also reinforce sustainability by making use of biological fi ltration and closed, potable water systems. The Springs The rectangular garden in front of City Hall has been transformed into a vibrant water installation, a stately cascade of overfl owing trays containing mildly swirling fl ows from low, bubbling springs suspended above lushly planted water gardens. Responding to the architecture of the building, the gridded water trays refl ect City Hall’s central windows. All the trays fl ow westward toward Main Street and Tongva Park. The design’s tilt toward the sunlight—and its numerous points of delicate, sound- generating springs and falls—provide a carefully scaled, charismatic experience refl ective of Santa Monica’s special identity. Water Bay A scooped out bay along the central path of Tongva Park is the backdrop of a grandly proportioned waterfall sequence. The sparkling falls are framed above by the crest of the bay and its surrounding plantings, and below by the fountain’s water garden reception pool. A scattering of large boulders in front of the garden pool provide a visually delightful barrier, offer casual seating, emphasize a relaxed informality, and suggest—with the falls—the site’s geological “arroyo wash” theme.
    [Show full text]
  • Flower Garden, the Vault of the Central Dome Is Divided Into Eight Boxes fi Lled with 8 20 1691 Murals, Whose Motifs Are Based on Ovid’S Metamorphoses
    4 In the center of the garden, there is an octagonal pavilion, now called The Rotunda, built between 1666–1668 according to a design by 21 22 G. P. Tencalla. Originally, it was a central structure, with all walls open to the garden and a a central hall, followed by four artifi cial caves 5 (grottos) and four lounges (Flint rooms). It can boast a valuable artistic 7 6 J. van den interior decoration consisting of rich sculpture, painting and stucco Nypoort and components. The current look with the portico and only two functional G. M. Vischer, entrances was given to the Rotunda in the early 20th century when the 19 A view of the building was modifi ed to a museum. Flower Garden, The vault of the central dome is divided into eight boxes fi lled with 8 20 1691 murals, whose motifs are based on Ovid’s Metamorphoses. The original work of the Italian Giovanni Giacomo Tencalla (1644–1690) The Flower Garden, established in the late 17th century, is a unique was unfortunately painted over in the early 20th century. In contrast, the 2 1 example of the early baroque garden. It harmonized older renaissance rich stucco decorations by Quirico Castelli and his group of plasterers Italian and Western European patterns with emerging French baroque have retained their originality as well as four sculptures depicting the spacial atmosphere of the Louise XIV era. The Flower Garden is unique An agricultural exposition, 1908 The north-western view of the garden, about 1750 seasons by the sculptor Michael Mandík. Four grottos - artifi cial caves 99 3 in the European and worldwide context due to the rate of preservation – lead to the central hall.
    [Show full text]