Chenshan Botanical Garden in Shanghai, China

Faculty of Architecture’s Dietmar Straub does low-budget projects pro bono with his wife Anna Thurmayr. Both are landscape architects and assistant professors in the department of landscape architecture at the U of M, as well as business partners in the firm Straub + Thurmayr Landschaftsarchitekten. A recent inner-city project won the pair one of the most prestigious awards in German architecture — the Deutscher Landschaftsarchitektur Preis 2013 — and in Canada, a National Citation at the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) Awards of Excellence.

They’ve designed outdoor spaces across the globe, including one of the largest botanical gardens in the world, the 10-plus-acre Chenshan Botanical Garden in Shanghai, China.

The project by Straub Thurmayr CSLA / Landschaftsarchitekten Auer + Weber + Assoziierte Architects, Valentien + Valentien Landschaftsarchitekten was awarded the 2012 National Merit for Design.

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Inside view of Chenshan Botanical Garden in Shanghai, China. // Photo Gisela Erlacher

Conservatory. // Photo Dietmar Straub

Osmanthus Garden. // Photo Gisela Erlacher

Gardens at Chenshan Botanic Garden. // Photo Dietmar Straub

Chenshan Botanic Garden Research Center. // Photo Dietmar Straub

Chenshan Botanic Garden Research Center. // Photo Dietmar Straub

Topographical map of Chenshan Botanical Garden in Shanghai, China. // Straub Thurmayr CSLA Landschaftsarchitekten and Stadtplaner

Panoramic shot of Chenshan Botanical Garden in Shanghai, China. // Photo Gisela Erlacher