The Labyrinth at Buckau in the city of Magdeburg (Germany)

aerial photo

ground plan

In Magdeburg there is a new labyrinth since December 2006. It was planned and built by the town planning office of the city Magdeburg as element of the town development.

I quote from a Flyer to the project: My tree for Buckau, “A green center – the Labyrinth”.

The “Green Center” in the district Buckau was planned as a green course through in former times densely developed worker quarters. Gradually on the fallow grounds differently arranged green ranges with different functions were provided, in order to reach a revaluation of the living quality and to create a green framework for structural activities. The arranged green course leads consciously past public buildings and installations of art and culture, which exercises reflections on the organization of the directly bordering areas. The so-called pocket parks are intensively arranged open spaces with different use, like creative garden, playing area for children, resting place, festivity place, and as provisionally last section the labyrinth. The “Green Center” connects the bank of the Elbe with the center of the redevelopment area of Buckau.

Last week I visited the labyrinth and brought along some photos of it.

Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3

Picture 4

Picture 5

Picture 6

Picture 7

Picture 8

Picture 9

Picture 10

Picture 11

Picture 12

Picture 13

Picture 14

Picture 15

The way of the labyrinth is built out of rectangular cut granitic slabs of 1 m length and 0.5 m broad, which are abashed in a lawn. The “roof” of the labyrinth is made of 168 sycamore trees, for which 168 pupils took over the tree sponsorship. To seal their sponsorship a bottle with their personal record was buried in each tree pit. The entrance of the labyrinth is marked with a granitic stele symbolizing the task of life, and at the end of the way (thus in the center) an other one stands there for peace and clarity.

The alignment of the labyrinth results from a modified form of the classical labyrinth with 3 (shifted) turning points and 5 circuits. The whole is arranged in a strict rectangular form, into which the ways are written and which are loosened up by the alike regularly planted trees. Thus the labyrinth is a somewhat uniquely and modern interpretation of the original and oldest type of labyrinth. Why not?

Again from the Flyer:

Before – afterwards

In 2006 the chicory factory provided by the manufacturer Dommerich was demolished, the area for the greenbelt setting, occupied with numerous garages and sheds, was evacuated.
A generously arranged green area was developed, which increases the residence quality out of doors and the identity with the quarter Buckau. 168 sycamore trees will form a tree roof in the future, a green area.