Tree Mound
Wolfgottesacker, Basel, Switzerland, 2024

Built in 1872, the Wolgottesacker cemetery is now surrounded by the urban fabric of Basel. At the heart of the site, where the axes connecting the entrance, chapel, and burial areas converge, lies a central space where a mourning hall was originally planned. For over 150 years, this prominent spot remained an empty asphalt surface.

In 2022, the City of Basel commissioned me to develop a proposal for this location, which was realized in 2024. I approached the design with an understanding of the site’s monumental status, aiming to create a serene, green intervention that would both reflect the cemetery’s character and provide visitors with a point of orientation.

A granite edge now embraces a small hill, atop which eight columnar evergreen trees are arranged in a crown. Along each axis, bespoke granite steps invite visitors to enter the tree circle. Over time, this circle is intended to evolve into a contemplative, enclosed space—symbolically linking heaven and earth.

Commissioner: Municipality of Basel City
Photography: Simone Braendle