Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen's 'Gartenschlauch' in Freiburg
VernissageTV has produced a video feature showcasing 'Gartenschlauch' (Garden Hose), a monumental public sculpture by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, located in Eschholzpark (Stühlinger Park), Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. This vibrant red steel sculpture, created in 1983, measures approximately 84–125 meters in length and 0.5 meters in diameter, accompanied by a faucet standing 10–11 meters tall. Fabricated in sections at Mannesmannröhren-Werke AG in Mülheim, the 30 hose segments were uniquely bent in two directions. Winning Freiburg's 1980 art competition, the installation took place in April 1983, inaugurated on May 2, at a cost of around 400,000 German marks. Over the years, it has become a cherished landmark despite facing maintenance issues. The video was filmed on July 18, 2026.
Key facts
- Sculpture 'Gartenschlauch' (Garden Hose) by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, created 1983.
- Located in Eschholzpark (Stühlinger Park), Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.
- Hose: 84–125 meters long, 0.5 meters in diameter; faucet: 10–11 meters high.
- Made of steel painted with polyurethane enamel, fabricated at Mannesmannröhren-Werke AG in Mülheim.
- Special bending process curved 30 hose sections in two directions simultaneously.
- Site was formerly an allotment garden area; sculpture commemorates this history.
- Design won Freiburg's 1980 art competition.
- Installed April 1983, inaugurated May 2, 1983, as 'Kunst am Bau' for school center.
- Cost around 400,000 German marks.
- Video recorded July 18, 2026.
- Part of Oldenburg and van Bruggen's global series of oversized everyday objects.
Entities
Artists
- Claes Oldenburg
- Coosje van Bruggen
Institutions
- VernissageTV
- Mannesmannröhren-Werke AG
Locations
- Eschholzpark
- Stühlinger Park
- Freiburg im Breisgau
- Germany
- Mülheim