Treasure Tree

Competition entry, Mariendorf Tax Office, Berlin, 1987

The "Treasure Tree" is conceived as a sculptural metaphor: an organically growing network of branches cast in bronze, winding upwards to form a protective space. Precious stones and metals are placed in its branch forks—luminous accents that resemble fruit or precious leaves and lend the tree its symbolic power.

Inside lies a sphere, symbolizing the hidden treasure. It represents what is preserved at its core: values ​​that are not openly displayed but protected, collected, and cherished.

The tree thus combines natural form and allegory. Bronze, as a durable material, lends it permanence, while the precious stones capture the light and reflect it in ever-changing ways. In the middle of the austere courtyard of an administrative building, the "Treasure Tree" marks a poetic counterpoint: It alludes to growth, temporality, and intrinsic values—and invites us to recognize the essence behind the numbers and structures.