Orientalischer Garten

A hidden oasis. That’s the first impression of the Orientalischer Garten in Berlin. Tucked behind four-meter walls, the Orientalischer Garten, also known as the Garden of Four Streams, whispers promises of tranquility. This garden, a jewel within the Gardens of the World in Marzahn, offers a sensory journey into the heart of North African and Arabic garden design. Kamel Louafi, a Berlin-based landscape architect from Algeria, collaborated with garden historian Mohammed El Fai’z from Marrakesh and a group of Moroccan artisans to bring this vision to life. The Orientalischer Garten embodies the Quranic vision of paradise. Four watercourses intersect, dividing the garden into quadrants. These quadrants represent the four rivers of paradise: water, milk, wine, and honey. Each area is slightly lowered and filled with a mix of pomegranate, olive, quince, medlar, mulberry, palm, orange, rose, and herb and spice plants. Fountains animate each section. A central pavilion houses a basin from which the four streams flow. Arcades flank the north and south sides of the garden rectangle. Nooks within these arcades hold ornately decorated drinking fountains. Tile carpets in endless geometric patterns adorn the ground. Painted ceilings, wood, plaster, and stone carvings, floral ornaments, and Arabic calligraphy on tilework enrich the space. Four magnificent courtyard gates complete the picture. This garden overflows with decorative elements, plants, colors, scents, and the gentle sounds of water. The formal, geometric layout is most evident under the arcades and in the Hall of Receptions. This hall, added in 2007, is a serene space illuminated by a glass dome. An arcade of 28 columns with finely carved, fragrant cedar arches encircles the hall, emphasizing the contemplative atmosphere and serving as an entrance to the enchanting courtyard garden.