7000 Oaks, Land art sculpture in Kassel, Germany
7000 Oaks is a land art project in Kassel that pairs 7000 trees with dark basalt columns across streets and green spaces throughout the city. Each tree stands beside its own column, which rises about one meter high and remains clearly visible.
Joseph Beuys began the project during documenta 7 in 1982, creating a statement about ecological awareness. The last of the 7000 tree pairings was planted in 1987, completing the entire concept.
The title Stadtverwaldung statt Stadtverwaltung plays on words, replacing city administration with city forest creation. Each planted tree offers shade and fresh air to residents walking past the dark stone markers scattered through neighborhoods.
The tree-and-column pairs spread across the entire city, so walking or cycling through neighborhoods reveals many of them. The Environmental Office maintains all the trees in partnership with the foundation, keeping the installation in good condition.
Each tree continues to grow and change the cityscape while the basalt column remains unchanged. The installation lives through natural growth, becoming larger and denser with the years.
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