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The Dagmar principle

We can learn from Empress Dagmar’s partiality for trees and running water. In addition to a great sensuous and aesthetic enjoyment there are many environmental advantages connected with using water and foliage with buildings.

The Empress Dagmar, daughter of Christian IX, was married to Czar Alexander III of Russia. The royal couple lived for a while in the Winter Palace in St Petersburg. The Empress planted trees in the grounds, established fountains and thereby brought coolness to the hot, Russian summer.

The trees’ foliage offer shade from the sun and act as a climate regulator. Trees take up water through their trunks and out to the furthest leaf, from which it evaporates and disappears back into the atmosphere. This leads to cooling. Furthermore, trees have many aesthetic qualities, including their form, light and their organic contrast to the architecture. Fountains also have a cooling effect and can be driven by solar-cell panels: the more sun and heat, the more power to the water.

A natural, environmentally sound principle is to use water and foliage together with buildings. Trees and water have a cooling effect on the buildings and can reduce the expenses of electricity for air conditioning.