Gustav-Ammann-Park
The Gustav- Ammann- Park is a 3,000 -square-meter park in Oerlikon. It is tucked away on the former site of the company Oerlikon - Buehrle AG. In 1996, the park was in private hands was placed under protection since 1997 and previously unnamed plant as Gustav- Ammann- Park is open to the public. In the years 2004/2005, the plant was renovated garden gently under landmark protection criteria. Named the park is Gustav Ammann (1886-1955), one of Switzerland's landscape architect. With his work he contributed greatly to the reputation of the Swiss Garden and landscape design.
Formation
Based on the resulting time " workers' welfare " and as an expression of his patronal benevolence towards his workforce, the then CEO Georg Emil Buehrle planned in 1939 a device for providing food and relaxing stay for its employees during work breaks. The dining rooms were oriented to the sun and should communicate to employees security. The garden was designed in 1942 by landscape architect Gustav Ammann and implemented by the Horticulture Companies Mertens and Richard. So the so-called welfare building for staff meals and which follows it garden created in the years 1939 to 1943. Thus, the workers could be offered a variety of everyday working life, Gustav Ammann planned a southern holiday atmosphere. He succeeded, in spite of the little space available to convey a feeling of spaciousness.
At the foot of located on the south side of the house overhang a pool of water with japanisierenden stepping stones is placed. The many seats are accessed via a variety of paved, bordered by polygons natural stone paths. The many quiet places fit into the topography and, depending on the location of a view of the pond or in the individual garden games. Stone walls and rustic Ticino pergolas extend over the road network and serve as a conclusion to the outside. For the planting Ammann divided the park into three areas. Around the pond he chose trees and shrubs in the floodplain, a forest community for the shady parts. At the protected and hidden places he planted a southern vegetation with hardy plants from the Ticino or those whose outward appearance was similar to them.
Instead acacia Robinia came to train and place cypress was elected juniper. Woody plants with gray foliage, such as sea buckthorn served to increase the colors. Others were set so that they formed a contrast in color and structure. Ammann wanted to create a garden landscape, the familiar associations in the viewer and in the days of the war should at least provide the illusion of a better world. " This combination of free plant communities, enhanced by strange, but similar treasures along with the walls, pergolas and seats give a dreamland, a small paradise on earth", Gustav Ammann wrote in 1943 in an unpublished manuscript "The Garden at Welfare Building."
Rehabilitation
In the plant preserved in large parts in original condition many areas in poor condition, herbaceous plants had disappeared, the timbers of the arcades were rotten and the roads were in need of renovation. This necessitated a reorganization necessary. The landscape architect Ryffel & Ryffel from Uster, who had in 1994 already created the garden historic preservation expertise, developed in 2003 a renovation project. Part of this project was the concept of tree care Gerold Brun, tree care, Ottikon.
The targeted gentle renovation proved costly. All the decks were replaced. The mosaic flooring made of granite slabs were removed, supplemented and re-laid. Were also redeveloped the sandstone dry stone walls. Many rotten timbers of the large pergola system had to be replaced. Subsequently planted shrubs were cleared and some trees felled. The renovation brought better light conditions for the originally planted flowering plants and lawns. Further, the solid gate has been replaced by a lighter construction.
In welfare building now houses the restaurant staff of Rheinmetall AG.
Related Publications
- Suzanne Kappeler: Two other parks in Oerlikon: one to play and one to dream. The Gustav- Ammann- Park: A cozy gem. Green time, 2005 ( 13), p 6