Dresden, Germany

Schlossvorplatz Pillnitz

r+b landschaft s architektur, Knerer & Lang Architekten

Situation Castle and park, embedded in a regional frame, form the real centre of the district of Pillnitz. The historically valuable cultivation and unique park areas attract many foreign visitors the whole year through. The development of the castle and the surrounding park scenery, occurs from the west about the historical main entrance of both guard’s houses as well as from the east. On this occasion, the farmyard of the former chamber property, the castle forecourt, as a new and important Entrée plays a special role. The space – called castle forecourt today – is historically seen as the back entrance of the castle arrangement. On account of his nearness to the castle ensemble the former farmyard developed to a central input area. The atmosphere of the castle forecourt is considerably weakened by the excessive one and the place immoderate use as a parking lot. The today’s special meaning of the place does not reveal the present diversity and heterogeneity of materials, vegetative elements and functions. The generosity of the place with its surrounding historical constructions is discernible only here and there, important spatial connections got lost. Aim of a reorganisation of the castle forecourt is therefore to restore the spatial legibility to strengthen the historically valuable ensemble. Overall the stay quality should be raised. Draught considering the specific features of the place, stamped by his buildings and the character of the „rural idyl“, an adequate clearance which promotes the unlimited interaction between visitors, buildings and clearances is developed. This happens, while the castle forecourt is released from all shifting furnishings and permanent uses (parking). He becomes the neutral Entrée which serves the stay and the orientation and allows to experience the complexity of the place.

Like a second skin a surface from natural stone plaster spans over the square. Following the existing topography, four different levels (plateaus) penetrate the surface. There originate shady stay areas. As a new identification donating element the edges step formally in a dialogue with the architecture of the barn. In analogy to the surface layers (stone, gravel, sand) rurally of stamped farmyards the density of the plaster layer resolves in the stay areas increasingly and allows the greening of the joints and surfaces. The layer inside of the barn (flagstones) stretches intermediatory up to the place and offers space for seats of the summery catering trade.

Vegetation The old chestnuts as a significant sign and linear element of the Lohmener Strasse are preserved. They define, as a counterpart to the new entrance hall, the entrance to the place. The young chestnuts, as well as other woods are removed to the strengthening of the historical court situation to produce the clarity of a place situation. The back-sided facade of the guard is released. In reference to the motives of the formerly tree school and the fruit and wine cultivation in that region two grove-like areas flooded with light originate. Adjoining to the historical wall a grove of shaped ornamental fruit woods (Malus in kinds, Prunus, etc.) invite for a rest. As another, central and contemplative place a grove of ornamental cherries (Prunus of subhirtilla’ Autumnalis’) originates. The specific settlement of blossoming and fragrant ornamental woods (height 5 – 8m) allows the appropriation of the court by his visitors in a human scale and gets at the same time another spatial quality. By the relatively low growth the view towards the castle is preserved. The lime-trees located to the west of the hotel (classical court tree) are preserved and integrate themselves into a new formulated terrace.