Christoph Hesse Architekten

Reflecting Points, a continuation of the Open Mind Places in Sauerland, is a collaborative initiative by BDA Kassel for documenta fifteen. Scattered throughout the city of Kassel during the summer of 2022, these installations created spaces for encounters and meaningful communication. The project sought to inspire participation in environmental actions and promote societal exchange.

The Reflecting Point Collective consists of horizontally stacked wooden fences that form an open interior space with seating niches. In woodland settings, these fences serve to protect young, biodiverse trees. When fully erected vertically, the 850-meter-long fence structure can safeguard up to 5,000 young trees from browsing damage during their early growth. After seven to eight years, as the tree tips grow beyond the reach of wildlife, the fences complete their purpose and naturally decompose into humus, enriching the surrounding soil.

After its time at documenta fifteen, Collective was dismantled, stored, and later rebuilt in Referinghausen, where it is now integrated into the Open Mind Places installations.