Castle of Air, Cincinnati

Pavilion „Castle of Air“ in the
Friendship Park in Cincinnati
Castle of Air, Cincinnati
15 years ago Cincinnati expressed the request to Munich, among other sister
cities, to make a representative contribution to the newly landscaped Theodore
M. Berry International Friendship Park, which is meant to strengthen the idea of
international relations. The park was landscaped on a former harbour area at the
northern banks of the Ohio river at the borderline between Ohio and Kentucky.
On April 16, 2002 The Munich city council decided in favor of the construction of
a pavilion, representing the city of Munich, in the International Friendship Park.
Projected costs: 200.000 Euro. As a result the Department of Public Construction
(Gardening Division) commissioned the Munich architect Peter Haimerl for the
planning and construction of this project. The pavilion was dedicated on site by a
delegation of the Munich city council headed by City Mayor Hep Monatzeder.
Peter Haimerl named the pavilion (7x7m, 6m high) „Castle of Air“. Based on the
European hunting lodge and summer palace of the 18th-century like the
Pagodenburg and Amalienburg in the castle park of Nymphenburg, Peter
Haimerl created a structure provided with a system of mirrors outside as well as
inside. Four walls with an arched facade of polished steel are forming a
crosswise layout. The polished material distorting the environment inside as well
as outside appears to be completely dissolving the pavilion.
The City of Cincinnati expressed its enthusiasm about the elegant sculptural art
work and is using the pavilion for various cultural activities together with the
Munich Sister City Association of Greater Cincinnati.
Above left: The Pagodenburg in the
Nymphenburger castle park as the
model of the Castle of Air
Above right: Reflection in the pavilion
Below left: Pavilion in the sunset
Below right: The surrounding is
reflected by the mirrors.
Contracting authority
City of Munich
Dept. of Public Construction
(Gardening Division)
Project Management
City of Munich
Dept. of Public Construction
(Division Building Construction)
Klaus Hartert
Planning
Studio für Architektur, Peter Haimerl
Munich
Production
Messrs. Gföllner
Dimensions
Length 7m
Width 7m
Height 6m
completed by April 2004
Published by City of Munich
Dept. of Public Construction
Friedenstraße 40
D-81660 Munich
Text: Dr. Ulrich Schneider
(Department of Public Construction)
Photos: Peter Haimerl, architect
July 2005