Rolf Becker, founder of Wort & Bild Verlag, did more than build a healthcare publishing empire anchored by Apotheken Umschau – he realized his lifelong passion project: a sculpture park. A devoted art collector and patron, Becker never lived to see his vision completed; he passed away in 2014 at 94. Four years later, in 2018, the park opened to the public: a remarkable destination in Baierbrunn, perched directly above the Isar's steep 8-meter riverbank. The rugged landscape dotted with "art stations" invites visitors to pause and contemplate.

Landscape architect Adelheid Gräfin Schönborn was tasked with orchestrating the gardens so that each sculpture would be uniquely framed by its surroundings. The design process began with a fundamental question: should nature or art take precedence? The answer was decisive – plants would serve the sculptures, amplifying their artistic impact. Becker had one additional request: that something bloom year-round, preferably in blue and white.

The site required careful development. Twin natural stone staircases of soft beige Kelheim limestone descend and ascend both sides of the garden, converging on a small plaza anchored by George Segal's four bronze dancers in white patina, arranged in a circle. This plaza also frames the view from the new chamber music hall, built into the hillside with a 20-meter glass wall that extends the performance space visually into the park.

Three mature oak trees were relocated to preserve clear sightlines. Only a few tulip trees were introduced – their height helps define the garden's spatial composition. Among scattered shrubs and wildflower meadows, blue-violet catmint, hydrangeas, and wisteria provide constant color. And around every bend awaits another discovery: 14 sculptures by internationally recognized artists populate the park.

Before descending into the park's depths, you encounter "Ludwig's Dream" – Jaume Plensa's oversized bronze head constructed from musical notes, suggesting how music formed in Beethoven's mind. Life-size aluminum deer by Paolo Grassino and Magdalena Abakanowicz's "Walking Figure" punctuate the landscape, while Jan Fabre's "The Cloud Measurer" integrates seamlessly, its polished surface mirroring the verdant surroundings in perpetual reflection.

www.ags-garten.de

Photography Credits:

Philipp Schönborn
www.philippschoenborn.de

(Published in CUBE Munich 03|20)