Hermitage Park Waghäusel

In the direct vicinity of the pilgrimage church and the monastery, the baroque castle complex of the EREMITAGE WAGHÄUSEL was built in the 18th century. From 1837 onwards, the castle disappeared behind the factory walls of the Südzucker AG sugar factory. In 1997, the town of Waghäusel took over the 40 hectare site from the sugar factory and, based on our competition design from 2001 and with the support of the state of Baden-Württemberg, has put it to a new use as an industrial park.
The approx. 35 hectares of open space around the Hermitage, consisting of the Hermitage Garden, the Festival Meadows, the Forest Park and the new Wagbach Run, were redesigned into representative, versatile outdoor spaces, the EREMITAGEPARK.

The special feature of the site lies in the spatial proximity and the differentiated appearance of the industrial wasteland, the pilgrimage church with monastery and the baroque Hermitage. The conversion of the former Südzucker AG production facility was therefore the focus of the international competition held in 2001. The creation of a worthy environment was the basic idea behind the plans for the redesign of the Hermitage Park. The accessibility of the area for recreation and events was also in the foreground. However, no attempt was made to restore the park to a specific historical state. The various stages of development that the grounds have undergone in its almost 300-year history are too numerous for this.

The central design element of the EREMITAGE PARK are the axes starting from the newly designed INNER RING, which connect the pilgrimage church, the festival meadows, the Hermitage Garden and the forest park with access to the Wagbach.
The EREMITAGE GARDEN itself comprises the north-eastern carré of the original baroque garden complex of the Hermitage. Following the various historical records, individual elements were taken up again, reinterpreted and adapted to the requirements of the intended use. Along the way, one finds elements from the history of the garden: the northern access gate, the pergolas reminiscent of the hermits' houses, and the event platform on the site of the former fourth cavalier house of the Hermitage.
Historically, there are originally eight hermits' houses that were located radially in the immediate vicinity of the Hermitage. Two hermit houses were reinterpreted as metal constructions in the area of the garden.

The FESTIVAL AND RECREATION MEASURES are located to the east and west of the north axis, accompanied by a new avenue of trees. Here is sufficient place for larger ceremonies.
The south adjacent WALDPARK received a half-open, park-like character. Parallel to the existing southern axis, it was made accessible by foot and, thanks to semi-open structures, the visual relationship to the Barockschlösschen was made possible. Historical artefacts, such as fountains, ramparts and gates, were deliberately integrated into the redesign.

Following the numerous paths to the south, one reaches the historic Wagbach Bridge. It marks the beginning of the new Wagbach course. In the days of sugar production, the Wagbach was culverted, but the canal structure is now in need of major renovation and runs transversely under the new roads and commercial properties. Since the construction of a new culvert cannot be approved under water law, a new, open stream course was created. It enables the sensible use of the business park.

The Wagbach runs from now on east of the Hermitage between the railway line and the historic enclosure wall. It rejoins its original bed on the other side of the state road. The total length of the new course is approx. 1,300 m and replaces approx. 1,090 m of the previous culverted or canalised course.
Large embankment areas are created along the new, open course of the stream, which form the eastern end of the new park and whose design is incorporated in the routing and tree planting.

From an ecological point of view, the opening up provides a continuous habitat for many endangered and protected plant and animal species. Dead wood in the streambed provides an additional supply of diverse habitat. The new connection to the "Wagbachniederung" in the north also contributes in the long term to a considerable upgrading of this nationally important bird and nature reserve.