Application Process for the Landscape Planning Competition for the 2029 State Garden Show Kleve Has Begun!
Since May 6th, the call for applications to participate in the Europe-wide competition has been publicly open. Landscape architects from all over Europe can submit their individual designs, creative ideas, and solution proposals for the park areas of the 2029 State Garden Show by August 14th.
“With the announcement of the competition, we have reached an important milestone. The focus is on planning and constructing the permanent facilities—that is, the areas of the State Garden Show that will continue to enrich Kleve even after the event ends. This marks a very exciting phase,” emphasized Mayor Wolfgang Gebing.
The competition area covers the western hillside along the watercourse flowing through the city at Kermisdahl, including the Prinz-Moritz-Park. On the eastern bank, the transition area near the settlement leading into the Galleien will be developed as a public green space. To the south, a graduated transition to the open landscape with natural riverbank areas of the Kermisdahl is planned. The goal is to connect, expand, and optimize the existing green spaces. Additionally, the water as a central element should become both tangible and visible. Besides designing the permanent park areas, the location and preparation of exhibition contributions also need to be addressed. The competition is announced as an open, one-stage, landscape planning ideas and implementation competition.
Klaus Keysers, managing director of the gGmbH, said: “The previous ideas and concepts will now be further developed and concretized within the framework of the competition. We look forward to the participation of numerous architectural firms and their diverse design ideas for our State Garden Show.”
The competition entries will be evaluated by a jury on September 11th at the Kleve Kolpinghaus. The jury includes six renowned landscape architects as professional judges. The jury is complemented by non-professional judges Wolfgang Gebing (Mayor of Kleve), Heinrich Sperling (Laga Kleve 2029 gGmbH), Andrea Schwiete (CDU faction), Petra Tekath (SPD faction), and Wiltrud Schnütgen (Alliance 90/The Greens).
Afterwards, all submissions, including the winning design, will be presented to the interested public and the press and exhibited publicly for at least 10 days. The location and opening time of the exhibition will be announced in due course.
Background: In 2029, the city of Kleve will host the twentieth North Rhine-Westphalian State Garden Show. Along the Kermisdahl, a former Rhine side arm, two areas covering around 23 hectares will be developed into public green spaces and extensive natural recreational landscapes as permanent facilities. Parallel to and following the competition, under the motto “City | Country | Water,” spaces and locations for the garden show event will be prepared and activated with the involvement of other stakeholders (university, citizens, clubs, associations).