Waiblingen Valley Park Transformation of the Rems Valley and the Rems River from the source to the mouth

In 2019, the first inter-municipal garden show took place in Baden-Württemberg. 16 municipalities transformed the Rems Valley from the source of the Rems to the mouth of the Neckar over a length of more than 80 km into a huge exhibition area - the Rems Valley Garden Show 2019. The location Waiblingen presented itself mainly in the green space close to the city center in the floodplain along the Rems. However, the Talaue was not only used temporarily for the six-month exhibition period. A fundamental review of the existing park structure was carried out with regard to its qualities for the coming decades and it was supplemented by temporary interventions. The planning idea did not follow a general over-planning of the area. The existing potentials were strengthened, the park was supplemented by some new path connections and selectively upgraded by new offers for local recreation.

The artificial lighting now forms the new heart in the middle of the floodplain. On the large meadow area, framed by fruit trees, as a place thematically and formally corresponds with the art gallery Stihl. A small forest of high trunks was arranged in such a way that a clearing of approx. 1400 square metres was created, which reproduces the negative imprint of the building form of the art gallery and from now on is a place for art in public space or smaller events. The grove is deliberately perceived as an artificially readable object with sufficient distance to the surrounding path areas. A 60cm wide concrete band forms the border in the transition from the grove to the clearing and supports the chosen design language. The installation was carried out flush with the ground. The 240 high trunks were planted as avenue trees and were piled up to a passage height of three meters. A tree species typical for the location was selected, which on the one hand copes well with the environmental conditions in the floodplain and on the other hand supports the desired image through its growth form. The varieties Salix alba 'Belders' and Salix alba 'Liempde' are particularly narrow-crowned. The space created underneath provides light shade to stay in. In order not to offer a space for noise-intensive events in the floodplain afterwards, a supply of electricity and water was deliberately dispensed with.