Visit to the Waldfrieden Sculpture Park in Wuppertal
The RDS team met up for an excursion to the Waldfrieden sculpture park in Wuppertal on June 10th, 2017.
The Walfrieden sculpture park is located above the Tal der Wupper in the Christbusch woodland area between the city centers of Elberfeld and Barmen. The park slopes upward and covers an area of twelve hectares, extending into one of the many hillside forests surrounding Wuppertal. Ancient deciduous trees line the long serpentine road leading to the park grounds. Some Tony Craggs sculptures dot the slopes along the access road before visitors enter the park itself. A café is located at the last turn of the road, housed within the stone-walled ground floor of a residential building constructed in 1914 and an addition built as a glass cube.
The RDS team was treated to a “2-course” special and drinks in the café by chef Ernst Brusberg.
From the café, guests can access the entrance building to the sculpture park, constructed in 2007, via a stairwell. The staircase runs along one of the powerful supporting walls faced in sandstone that support the terraced gardens of the Villa Waldfrieden as they extend towards the valley. The landscaping design and garden area were part of the overall Waldfrieden concept developed by architect Franz Krause shortly after the Second World War for owner Kurt Herberts.
A six meter high exhibition pavilion was constructed in 2007 at the edge of the large lawn area. It has glass walls and extends over an area of nineteen times fourteen meters. The pure design of the glass space is designed to present sculptures that cannot be displayed outdoors. However, its transparent construction situates pieces in relationship to the surrounding nature and to all of its colors, lighting, and moods.
The photo shows the RDS team standing in front of the sculpture “Points of View” by Tony Cragg.
