Saving an Iconic Modernist Landscape
Marble Garden, created in 1955 by prolific Bauhaus artist Herbert Bayer at the Aspen Institute campus, is widely considered one of the first examples of landscape as sculpture in the country. The sculpture consists of a series of 21 upright marble slabs set on a 36-foot square marble aggregate concrete base, with an inset 12-foot square reflecting pool and fountain.
Sixty-four years after its original construction — the concrete aggregate base was cracked and crumbling after poor drainage and the freeze–thaw cycle of the harsh Aspen winters — the marble pieces were weathering and the tallest pieces were leaning from poor structural support resulting in concern for the safety of visitors to this modernist sculpture. Design Workshop’s team was tasked with saving this City of Aspen Historic Landmark without knowledge from the artist about the original materials, construction methods, or documentation of the built work.
The state of the garden in 2019, pre-restoration efforts.
Reconstruction layout plan.
Leading a Careful Restoration Process
The Design Workshop team worked closely with the art curator of the Aspen Institute and to research this exemplary work of mid-century modernism. The team sought historic documentation in order to identify the period of significance of Marble Garden. Here are some key insights into the restoration process:
- Reviewed photo records and videos wherein Bayer explains the piece, his dialogue representing satisfaction with the stone’s final placement.
- Engaged with material experts in order to develop a restoration method that honors each as a material with unique qualities.
- Built a team of experts, including a general contractor, art curator, stone preservation specialist, and a variety of subcontractors to address structural, material, drainage and site planning concerns.
- Surgical removal, labeling, and cleaning of the marble during deconstruction to extend longevity and return the stone to its original position and luster.
- A structural engineer makes recommendations to resolve the issue of listing and leaning stones. Their foundations were stabilized with a combination of increased footings, stainless steel pins, and thickened slabs.
- Concrete rehabilitation included replacement of the slab. Masons successfully matched the original aggregate. Jointing materials, grout, and waterproofing were specified to be non-corrosive and relied on material science to avoid chemical interaction with the marble pieces.
- Corrected the grading, drainage, and irrigation issues. Spray heads were replaced with a subsurface drip system to prevent future overspray, and lawn contouring redirects the surface and ground water run-off.
Aerial view of the site before and after the reconstruction.
Families enjoying the reconstructed garden.