Located south of the Hofburg Garden in the heart of Brixen, the Convent of the Tertiary Sisters of St Francis underwent a transformation in 2016 that turned an area formerly used as an intensive orchard into a space for encounter, meditation and reflection. Starting from the existing apple and pear plantation, a gradual transition from cultivation to contemplation was designed. Some of the original rows were retained as structural elements, while new medium- and tall-stem fruit trees were added to create a more varied and natural rhythm.
Rather than a traditional orchard, the result is a landscape transition that restores a sense of harmony between agricultural memory and spirituality.

The path network was expanded into a loop that connects places of rest and meditation. Along the way, beds of perennials and ornamental grasses enrich the sensory experience and enhance the perception of space. A large central pergola forms the main resting area, while two smaller covered seating areas along the boundary wall provide intimate spaces for silence and introspection.

The historic walls enclosing the garden, together with the corner tower of the Hofburg Garden, give the area a secluded and contemplative character. Traces of an old espalier structure were rediscovered and reinterpreted in the new design: today, apple and pear espaliers frame the garden, linking past and present both visually and symbolically. The niches with seating along the wall invite reflection and rest, restoring the garden’s original vocation as a place of peace and contemplation.