Baumbestand is a participatory public art project that commemorates the 105 trees felled during the construction of a new school at Zielstattstraße 72-74 in Munich. The project connects the former tree population with the school community, ensuring the memory of these trees remains present. Drawing on Social Sculpture and Multispecies Studies, Baumbestand involves teachers, students, and staff in co-creating artistic interventions that integrate the trees’ legacy into the new building’s architecture.

Through participatory workshops, we explore the relationship between humans and the trees that once stood on the site. The project blends personal stories with creative input from participants, addressing the intersection of public memory, environmental loss, and urban development.

Graphical representations of the 105 felled trees will be incorporated throughout the school, including tree rings, leaves, and seeds. These graphics span from the bicycle ramp to the entrance halls, floors, and courtyard. Anamorphic tree ring motifs will appear along the bicycle ramp, while the bike cellar’s concrete pillars will feature tree rings and anecdotes about the trees. Leaves and seeds etched into glass panels will be marked with colors representing each tree.

Baumbestand invites ongoing interaction and discovery and tries to foster a lasting connection between the school community and its environment.

Thanks to: Students and Staff from Zielstattstraße Grundschule and Mittelschule, Sophia Bauer, James Matharu, and Amy Zhang. Supported by: QUIVID: das Kunst-am-Bau-Programm der Stadt München.full project