Built in the late 1980s, the Wantikow family business's garden centre had fallen behind. The sprawling, fully glazed structure showed its age—both visually and technically. Energy efficiency and architectural modernisation had become pressing priorities.

The redesign went beyond mere repairs. The team set out to redefine the company's philosophy and elevate the customer experience. "Drawing inspiration from traditional architecture of the Lower Rhine—particularly the distinctive square courtyards of Meerbusch—we chose to clad the centre's glass facades with large-scale brick," explains architect Gereon Hecker. The extensive brick surfaces feature recycled clinker salvaged from demolished industrial halls in the Ruhr Valley. This choice was both ecologically sound and conceptually rich, paying homage to the monumental walk-in sculptures of artist Erwin Heerich at Museum Island Hombroich. The clinker delivers far more than aesthetic appeal: it infuses the building with texture, warmth, and a palpable sense of life. The monolithic design sits naturally within the Lower Rhine landscape, becoming a destination in itself—one that invites visitors to pause and explore. A glass roof bathes the plants in natural light, while an expansive south-facing window dominates the interior, flooding the space with sunlight and offering views across the sky and the reimagined car park. Landscape architect Ulrich Ziegler orchestrated the parking area's transformation, anchoring it with a striking central display bed planted with specimen trees from the centre's own nursery—already as tall as houses.

The Wantikow garden centre—encompassing landscaping, maintenance services, a tree nursery, retail operations, and a distinctive event venue housed within a greenhouse—now embodies the client's vision and values. The renovation has created a vibrant, inspiring haven for gardening enthusiasts while meeting contemporary standards for sustainability and technical performance.

www.wantikow.de
www.hecker-architekten.de

Photography:

Marcus Schwier
www.marcus-schwier.de

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 02|24)