WASSERFRISCHE SCHWARZMÜHLE
Schwarzatal, Germany | 3.700 m² | 2026
The Wasserfrische Schwarzatal project emerged from the “Slow Landscape – Summer Retreat” competition proposal, jointly developed by MAN MADE LAND and Fabulism. Its aim was to strengthen the landscape, cultural, and social qualities of the Schwarzatal region and further develop the panoramic trail as a connecting network linking places, landscapes, and local initiatives. In Meuselbach-Schwarzmühle, where the panoramic trail crosses the Schwarza River and railway infrastructure, tourism, and local life converge, the river itself takes center stage. A previously largely sealed parking lot is being transformed into a public riverside landscape. Rather than further confining the Schwarza, the design embraces its natural dynamics. During periods of high water, the river can expand into the park and temporarily inundate it. Water is thus understood not as a threat, but as a design feature and ecological asset. Two continuous slate lines mark different flood levels, making the river’s changing conditions visible across the terrain. Pathways, seating areas, and direct access to the water invite visitors to linger and explore.
Regionally characteristic slate defines the pathways and recreational areas. Existing riverside trees are preserved and complemented by site-appropriate planting. Lawns, gravel grass surfaces, and wet meadows create diverse transitions between river, meadow, and forest. Wasserfrische is neither a conventional park nor a technical flood protection facility, but an adaptable public landscape where nature, recreation, and the idea of a renewed summer retreat come together.
COMPETITION: 2018, 1. Prize
TEAM: MAN MADE LAND + Fabulism, Berlin | CONSTRUCTOR: Deutsche Bahn und Verwaltungsgemeinschaft "Schwarzatal" | PHOTOGRAPHY: © Hanns Joosten
