The international competition: ‘Best Private Plots 08 – Die besten Gärten 2008’ is being held for the third consecutive year. Awards are in recognition of newly designed gardens or for redesign of existing gardens.

Checking into previous winners in 2006 and 2007 revealed some interesting inspirations….check out the pavers for this garden that won first prize in 2007.

Designed by: Jane Sarah Bihr-de Salis – Landscape Architect BSLA – Kallern, Switzerland Garten Lukoschus-Dinte

The gardens’ design is rooted in religious symbolism, as described by the designer:

The floor surface, consisting of an arrangement of bone segments, makes reference to hell. There is mention in historical literature of the use of bone by the poor as flooring material during the Middle Ages, and as symbol of eternal life in ancient Greece. The bones used in the tea house were supplied by the cook at the local nursing home. He had cooperated in this endeavour the previous winter by repeatedly placing osso bucco on the meal plan.

The competition highlights the garden as a place of innovation, as a space for creative expression and action, as contemporary dialogue between architecture and landscape.
I am looking forward to the 2008 winners being announced in a couple weeks.