Peter Latz’ Post-industrial Park in Duisburg-Nord is an example that sees an existing building as a landscape element as well as an already-painted canvas to which he adds. The ruins have been revived, not through the conventional way of making it into an enclosed space (eg. Office or housing flats); but by transforming it into a park – a series of semi-outdoor gardens and grounds for recreation and cultural activities. The concept of implanting ‘valuable’ objects into a ‘worthless’ environment makes a strong, interesting contrast while the injection of vegetation inspired Garden Art rejuvenates the decaying ruins. To me this can be considered an example where principles of landscape urbanism have been applied. The whole and the part have been considered carefully and it is integrated into the wider ecology by introducing new vegetation which, not only beautify the place, but they also help to biochemically clean up the contaminants. The landscape has also been understood as layers, where new functions add a new stratum to its cultural and natural history.
Source: Udo Weilacher, ‘Learning from Duisburg-Nord’, Topos vol. 69 (2009): 94-97.
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