The imaginary Orient

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In the 18th century, the landscape garden concept, originating in England, spread across Europe, moving away from Baroque geometry to a more 'natural' design. Gardens became 'lands of illusion,' featuring Chinese pagodas, Egyptian tombs, Turkish mosques, and classical temples, creating a miniature world where distance intertwined with history. The fascination with a fairy-tale China, evident in gardens and Rococo chinoiseries, waned in the 19th century as European colonial expansion introduced new exotic trends. In England, the conquest of India inspired imagination, while France's occupation of Algiers sparked an Orient-inspired fashion that influenced art, literature, and architecture across the Continent. This undefined 'Orient' was steeped in Islamic culture, stretching from Constantinople to Granada, with the Alhambra captivating writers and architects. Islamic styles, deemed suitable for cheerful, secular buildings, contrasted with the severe Egyptian forms used for somber structures. The allure of this staged Orient promised happiness, boosting the success of coffeehouses, music halls, amusement parks, and even summer residences. Notable examples include George IV's Indian palace in Brighton and a 'moorish' retreat for King Wilhelm I in Bad Cannstatt. Stefan Koppelkamm, an architecture scholar and communication design teacher in Berlin, has explored historic and contemporary architectural themes since his earlier work o