Herbert Dreiseitl
Encyclopedia
Herbert Dreiseitl is an internationally renowned, sculptor, artist and interdisciplinary planner with over 30 years experience in the field of landscape architecture and water sculpture. Dreiseitl is known for his ground-breaking contemporary designs in the fields of urban hydrology, water design, stormwater management, urban planning and landscape architecture.
"Dreiseitl's philosophy is exhibited in his projects.
Water is life and the motivating factor in everything he does. "Water is selfless, extremely transformable, full of surprises both quiet and powerful, and yet remains the reliable carrier of life for all organisms. Its untarnished beauty and elementary power is regarded with respect in many cultures, admired and revered in religions and mythologies. Today we rediscover its fundamental value, an essential role in the environment, climate and life of this planet". Dreiseitl, inspired by water, seeks to awaken a new understanding of sustainability, using public art intrinsically within overall landscape planning solutions, bringing universal themes of ecology and well-being to light.
Early life
Dreiseitl was born in Ulm, Germany. He trained as an artist and works as a landscape architect designing water sculptures and urban spaces.
Career
Dreiseitl founded the firm Atelier Dreiseitl in 1980 which in 2010 employs 45 people in four offices worldwide. He has studios in Ueberlingen, Singapore, Beijing, and Portland. The China and United States international offices were added in March 2010.
The firm places a special importance on the management of rainwater (surface water runoff) in a sustainable manner. Water runoff from roofs and on the ground is collected and biologically purified by storing it in a pond with a diverse flora and fauna. The structures which duct and contain the water are modeled in the studio at a 1:1 scale before being cut in stone. The technique is innovative, for a landscape design office, and profoundly creative.
Dreiseitl’s firm works on all size scale projects. His best-known project was for Berlin’s Potsdammer Platz. It uses rainwater for flushing toilets, irrigation, floodwater protection and temperature moderation. The reed-planted embankment forms part of a biological and chemical water-purifying system. One of the regional projects he is currently working on is the central watershed master plan for Singapore. It takes the entire island into account and its vision is focused on a holistic approach to the future making the city more independent and less reliant on other countries for their water needs. They will eventually be using the entire city as a central water catchment system harvesting the water from hard surfaces, rooftops, roads and plazas and releasing it slowing back into the central rivers. On a smaller scale, the Formula One water harvesting project is exciting. It is aesthetically beautiful; however its main purpose is to harvest water for a cooling system for the entire factory.
He gives lectures throughout the world on varying topics related to waterscapes, design, and ecological water use in urban planning.
Projects
Awards
Publications
Herbert’s works are widely published and he has written Waterscapes: Planning, Building and Designing with Water (2001), New Waterscapes: Planning, Building and Designing with Water (2005), Recent Waterscapes: Planning, Building and Designing with Water (2009), as well as several other German books and publications.
Memberships
"Dreiseitl's philosophy is exhibited in his projects.
Water is life and the motivating factor in everything he does. "Water is selfless, extremely transformable, full of surprises both quiet and powerful, and yet remains the reliable carrier of life for all organisms. Its untarnished beauty and elementary power is regarded with respect in many cultures, admired and revered in religions and mythologies. Today we rediscover its fundamental value, an essential role in the environment, climate and life of this planet". Dreiseitl, inspired by water, seeks to awaken a new understanding of sustainability, using public art intrinsically within overall landscape planning solutions, bringing universal themes of ecology and well-being to light.
Early life
Dreiseitl was born in Ulm, Germany. He trained as an artist and works as a landscape architect designing water sculptures and urban spaces.
Career
Dreiseitl founded the firm Atelier Dreiseitl in 1980 which in 2010 employs 45 people in four offices worldwide. He has studios in Ueberlingen, Singapore, Beijing, and Portland. The China and United States international offices were added in March 2010.
The firm places a special importance on the management of rainwater (surface water runoff) in a sustainable manner. Water runoff from roofs and on the ground is collected and biologically purified by storing it in a pond with a diverse flora and fauna. The structures which duct and contain the water are modeled in the studio at a 1:1 scale before being cut in stone. The technique is innovative, for a landscape design office, and profoundly creative.
Dreiseitl’s firm works on all size scale projects. His best-known project was for Berlin’s Potsdammer Platz. It uses rainwater for flushing toilets, irrigation, floodwater protection and temperature moderation. The reed-planted embankment forms part of a biological and chemical water-purifying system. One of the regional projects he is currently working on is the central watershed master plan for Singapore. It takes the entire island into account and its vision is focused on a holistic approach to the future making the city more independent and less reliant on other countries for their water needs. They will eventually be using the entire city as a central water catchment system harvesting the water from hard surfaces, rooftops, roads and plazas and releasing it slowing back into the central rivers. On a smaller scale, the Formula One water harvesting project is exciting. It is aesthetically beautiful; however its main purpose is to harvest water for a cooling system for the entire factory.
He gives lectures throughout the world on varying topics related to waterscapes, design, and ecological water use in urban planning.
Projects
- Potsdarmer Platz
- Holalokka - Oslo Norway
- Car Research Center - London
- Pforzheim, Germany - water playground
- Tanner Springs Park, Portland - USA
- Lanferbach - Gelsenkirchen, Germany
- Maybach Center - Sindelfingen
- Hagen Creek - Renaturation Volme
- City Hall - Chicago green roof
- Heiner MetzgerPlatz, Neu Ulm, 2005
- Prisma-Nurenberg, Germany
Awards
Publications
Herbert’s works are widely published and he has written Waterscapes: Planning, Building and Designing with Water (2001), New Waterscapes: Planning, Building and Designing with Water (2005), Recent Waterscapes: Planning, Building and Designing with Water (2009), as well as several other German books and publications.
Memberships
- Member Architektenkammer NW (L 41 560) - German Architects Association
- Member ASLA - American Society of Landscape Architects
- Member VBKW - Württemberg Association of Visual Artists
- Member BBK - Professional Association of Visual Artists
- Member ATV-DVWK - German Association for Water Management, Wastewater and Waste
External links
- Tanner Springs ParkTanner Springs ParkTanner Springs Park is a city park in the area of downtown Portland, Oregon known as the Pearl District.-History:Part of a 1999 Pearl District plan, the park was originally named North Park Square, but was renamed in April 2005....
Tanner Springs ParkTanner Springs ParkTanner Springs Park is a city park in the area of downtown Portland, Oregon known as the Pearl District.-History:Part of a 1999 Pearl District plan, the park was originally named North Park Square, but was renamed in April 2005.... - El Alamein FountainEl Alamein FountainThe El Alamein Memorial Fountain is a fountain and war memorial in the city of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the Kings Cross area, at the entrance to the Fitzroy Gardens on the corner of Darlingurst Road and Macleay Street...
El Alamein FountainEl Alamein FountainThe El Alamein Memorial Fountain is a fountain and war memorial in the city of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the Kings Cross area, at the entrance to the Fitzroy Gardens on the corner of Darlingurst Road and Macleay Street... - http://www.dreiseitl.netAtelier Dreiseitl Website