Beckenhof, bouwwerk in Zürich, Zwitserland
Beckenhof is a historic estate in Zürich with buildings constructed in the 17th and 18th centuries arranged around a paved courtyard with a classical fountain. The complex includes three residential buildings, an economic building with garden pavilions, and an annex added in the 1930s, preserving about one-fifth of its original plot near the Limmat river.
The estate began as a farm in the 12th century and was transformed by baroque residential buildings in the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1740, Junker Hartmann Grebel and his wife created a representative mansion with designed gardens, which later became a gathering place for artists and intellectuals under writer David Hess in the early 1800s.
The name Beckenhof refers to its origins as a farmstead with water basins. Today the paved courtyard and baroque buildings reflect how the estate shifted from private residence to public garden, having attracted artists and writers throughout its life.
The estate is easily reached by public transportation with tram lines 11 and 51 stopping at Beckenhof station. Visitors can freely enter the gardens to stroll through the grounds, though the buildings are currently not open for interior visits but can be appreciated from outside.
Artists were drawn to this location, particularly painter Varlin who in 1924 created an oil painting called 'My Studio at Beckenhof' after returning from France. A water fountain dating around 1790 still stands before the garden entrance, showcasing the classical design of that era.
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