ANNOUNCEMENT 22 March 2010 Frankfurt/Main Deutsches Architekturmuseum and Palmengarten, Frankfurt/Main present: URBAN GREEN European Landscape Architecture for the 21st century 2o May – 22 August 2010 Gallery at the Palmenhaus, Palmengarten OPENING: Thur., 20 May 2010, 19.00 MEDIA CONFERENCE: Wed., 19 May 2010, 11.00 Photo: © Rehwaldt Landschaftschaftarchitekten, Dresden Urban Green as a key to solving urban problems - an exhibition showcases current approaches in Europe The rediscovery of inner cities which has been ongoing for some years now has in no way repressed people’s yearning for nature. On the contrary: Nowadays more and more urban solutions need to be found to meet this growing need. The heightened design, ecological, sociological and economical requirements also have to be addressed. However, whether it be the improvement of the urban environment, the expected urban contraction as a result of a declining population, or the still current redevelopment of industrial wastelands - city greenery can indeed make a decisive contribution to sustainable ecological urban renewal. The exhibition showcases 27 examples of open space design in Europe by renowned landscape architects. The designs were completed between 1990 and 2010, transforming inner-city open spaces primarily by planting greenery. The projects range from private urban gardens to major projects such as the revitalization of areas of river bank and green master-plans for entire big cities. Visitors are given a well-founded overview of leading approaches to landscape architecture in Europe – to its positions, the materials used, and the technologies employed. The exhibition sees itself as a committed plea for an appreciation and the careful treatment of the green and open spaces in inner cities. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT page 1 URBAN GREEN – EUROPEAN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FOR THE 21st CENT. Frankfurt/Main, 22/03/01 The exhibition includes designs by Atelier Le Balto (Germany), Patrick Blanc (France), Breimann & Bruun (Germany), Gustafson Porter (UK), GTL Gnüchtel Triebswetter (Germany), Karres en Brands (Netherlands), Kienast Vogt Partner (Switzerland), Paolo Pejrone (Italy), Rehwaldt Landschaftsarchitekten (Germany) and Wirtz International (Belgium). Alongside projects from Amsterdam, Berlin, Bordeaux, Lyon, Madrid, Paris, Rome, Zurich and elsewhere, the exhibition also features two current green plans for green projects in Frankfurt/Main. The city, which as long ago as 1827 made an extremely noteworthy contribution to the preservation of public green spaces with the Wallservitut decree, will be represented by the Mainuferpark and the former airfield in the Kalbach/Bonames district. The individual projects selected by a scholarly advisory council will be presented in the form of plans, models, photographs and short film documentaries, as well as botanical specimens. Sign Kommunikation in Frankfurt/Main was responsible for designing the exhibition. The exhibition also features a prototype of a “mur végétal”, which the Palmengarten is currently planting on its northern boundary. The 1,000-meter long composition covered in thick vegetation was designed by the contemporary, internationally renowned French landscape architect, Patrick Blanc. To accompany the exhibition Birkhäuser Verlag in Basle is publishing a comprehensive catalog in German and English. A joint exhibition by Deutsches Architekturmuseum and the Palmengarten, Frankfurt/Main under the patronage of the Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Development, Dr Peter Ramsauer, and the President of the German Association of Cities and Mayoress of Frankfurt/Main, Dr h.c. Petra Roth. Press photos for announcements and for the duration of the exhibition at www.dam-online.de PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT page 2 URBAN GREEN – EUROPEAN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FOR THE 21st CENT. Frankfurt/Main, 22/03/01 DEUTSCHES ARCHITEKTURMUSEUM Press and PR Schaumainkai 43, 60596 Frankfurt/Main, Germany, www.dam-online.de Paul Andreas M.A. / Andreas Communications Communications for Architecture |Arts |Design Tel. +49 (0)211 164 55 352 \ Fax +49 (0)211 167 46 449 dam@andreas-komm.de PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT page 3