When a place no longer functions as a symbol of wealth or success, it often takes on a different role — becoming a site of absence, of failure, of loss or disorder. Stripped of their original purpose, these spaces slip through the cracks of control and regulation. And it's precisely in that ambiguity, in that lack of assigned function, that something else can emerge. These forgotten corners of the city begin to open up — to new meanings, new uses, and unexpected possibilities.
these images are part of my ongoing research
these images are part of my ongoing research
OSDORPERPOLDER
In order to be able to further expand the city of Amsterdam in a westerly and southerly direction, urban planner Van Eesteren incorporated these plans into the General Expansion Plan (AUP) of 1935. As a result, the Western Garden Cities was built in the 1950s and 1960s. The idea was also to permanently reserve certain polders for horticulture. This plan failed: the Osdorperpolder now consists of large car junkyards and dilapidated greenhouses that function as caravan and camper sheds.
Intended as an area with a clear destination and of importance (“the contact between the city dwellers and the rural area is of permanent importance”), the polder has not been able to live up to its high expectations.
I call these areas ‘left over spaces’. When a place or space no langer signifies as a marker of wealth or succes, it becomes a symbolic site of failure, loss, disorder or chaos. They lack a clear assigned use and with that they lack control regulations.
Fascinating how failure can turn into utopia.
In order to be able to further expand the city of Amsterdam in a westerly and southerly direction, urban planner Van Eesteren incorporated these plans into the General Expansion Plan (AUP) of 1935. As a result, the Western Garden Cities was built in the 1950s and 1960s. The idea was also to permanently reserve certain polders for horticulture. This plan failed: the Osdorperpolder now consists of large car junkyards and dilapidated greenhouses that function as caravan and camper sheds.
Intended as an area with a clear destination and of importance (“the contact between the city dwellers and the rural area is of permanent importance”), the polder has not been able to live up to its high expectations.
I call these areas ‘left over spaces’. When a place or space no langer signifies as a marker of wealth or succes, it becomes a symbolic site of failure, loss, disorder or chaos. They lack a clear assigned use and with that they lack control regulations.
Fascinating how failure can turn into utopia.
AKERPOORT
With outlet stores in design clothing and athleisure wear, Europe’s largest retailer for consumer electronics, a big do-it-yourself-store and a popular fast-food restaurant across the street, this four-story high parking lot is never empty. Cars wait in line for one of the 550 spots in this free parking lot. Covid-19 changed this drastically.
In designing city public spaces there is a focus on shopping as a dominant activity. True public places where a space demands nothing from you in order to enter, nor for you to stay are hard to find. This series offers us this rare moment where you don’t have to (pretend) to buy something to be there.
No longer a place that signifies as a marker of wealth or succes, this parking became the backside of the designed, primary spaces of public life, which are controlled and crippled, following the model of the theme park and the mall.
It leaves us now to contemplate all that has been lost and gained, and what remains to be seen.
In designing city public spaces there is a focus on shopping as a dominant activity. True public places where a space demands nothing from you in order to enter, nor for you to stay are hard to find. This series offers us this rare moment where you don’t have to (pretend) to buy something to be there.
No longer a place that signifies as a marker of wealth or succes, this parking became the backside of the designed, primary spaces of public life, which are controlled and crippled, following the model of the theme park and the mall.
It leaves us now to contemplate all that has been lost and gained, and what remains to be seen.
OEVERLANDEN
Nature reserve De Oeverlanden has been created on the reclaimed soil from the waters called the Nieuwe Meer since the 1950s. Over the years it became an area with rugged nature. When the municipality of Amsterdam wanted to use the area for housing in the 1980s, this was met with protests. De Oeverlanden remained a recreation and nature area on the outskirts of Amsterdam. Especially during the pandemic, it could get very crowded.
This series records the evidence of the presence in the absence of the body. It is an area strewn with the debris of human (inter)action.
The empty spaces demand that the viewer fill in the blanks; we almost feel compelled to complete the picture in front of us, to give it meaning and narrative. We people it ourselves. How would your initial made up narrative change if I’d told you this is one of the biggest gay cruising areas in Amsterdam?
Next to the concept of exploring the idea of spaces with queer signification, the series is also looking into the notion of the context vacuum.
GRONINGEN
