Barrier Bench 360:3 is a site specific outdoor furniture piece, made to confuse and get lost.
In many ways contemporary cities have become very restrictive and almost too organized. My wish is to bring an adventurous feeling back to town. In public spaces barriers usually indicate places people are not welcome. This barrier is opposite of that. Even though it has looks of a typical public space restrictive guiding element, it is an object that enables user to take over the guiding and make up his own rules. User can choose which landscape he wants be in, what to see and what to feel, angle of the sun and wind direction. It is possible to rotate the barrier-bench 360 degrees, so it’s all in your own hands!
Barrier Bench 360:3 is made for exhibition Local Heroes in Boxtel, curated by Jules van den Langenberg, held on 25th of May 2014.
Realisation of this project was possible thanks to Stichting Doen.
Metal; 30x50x300cm; 2014
Barrier Bench 360:2 is a site specific outdoor furniture piece, made to confuse and get lost. Made for railway station Dubulti in Jurmala, Latvia.
Metal; 25x50x300cm; 2009
Barrier Bench 360:1 is a site specific outdoor furniture piece, made to confuse and get lost.
Walking all the way in between two Dutch villages Mierlo and Heeze, a big part of the route is made up by nature. It is very beautiful, but there was something missing- the possibility to get lost. That is how my passion for barrier's has started.
Getting lost is one of the most exiting things that wild nature has to offer. On this route there are signs and maps, one after another, so you always know exactly where you are. My wish was to bring an adveturous 'getting lost' feeling back to the landscape. In landscape barriers usually indicate roads where cars can't pass, but pedestrians still can. This barrier doesn't offer a road, it offers you a possibility to sit down and fade into the landscape. Even more- you can choose which landscape you want to be in, angle of the sun and wind direction. It is possible to rotate barrier-bench 360 degrees, so it's all in your hands!
Wood from the site; 10x50x200cm; 2009