A History

Passing through the wrought iron gates leading from the Bäumlihofstrasse to the grounds of the Hirzen Pavillon, one enters a place of history.

 

According to history records, the Bäumlihof – later known as "Klein-Riehen" – was originally a vineyard belonging to the Klingental monastery. The estate has been in the hands of the Burckhardt, Merian and Geigy families since 1686, apart from a short hiatus of 14 years.

 

Noteworthy among the owners is Samual Burckhardt-Zäslin, who undertook extensive renovations in a grandiose manner in the early 18th century. Imitating Le Nôtre's style, the garden was also opulently redesigned and embellished with hedges, fountains and statues according to the taste of the times.Two generations later, under the auspices of Samuel Merian-Kuder, the garden was transformed again in the fashionable English landscape style. At that time, the Bäumlihof estate extended right down to the shores of the Rhine. Another two generations later, in the years 1876 to 1878, Johann Rudolf Geigy-Merian had a fine large country residence built. Not in keeping with mid-twentieth century ideas, it was demolished in 1951 in an effort to restore the estate's original character.

Although in earlier times the estate had been occupied by one owner, after the death of Helene Geigy-Schlumberger the farm and the park, with all its various buildings, were subdivided among the members of the family and their descendants. This has led to the erection of additional fences and hedges, by which intervention the unity and openness of the park was deeply compromised. On the other hand, the newly created individual zones became more autonomous, making way for new projects and visions. The Hirzen Pavillon is one of them. It stands on the site of the former deer preserve (Hirschengehege) from which old German word the Hirzen (Hirschen) Pavillon got its name.

 

By building the transparent pavilion, the present owners have realised their own vision. Values and principles which have stood the test of time are embodied in challenging messages and state-of-the-art technology. The Hirzen Pavillon continues the tradition of hospitality long practised at the Bäumlihof, in particular by Samuel Merian-Kuder and Johann Rudolf Geigy-Merian, and sets the trend for the future.