marc van vliet sets floating observatory on the dutch flat sands

marc van vliet sets floating observatory on the dutch flat sands
(above) the structure celebrates the moment when the sun stand stills

over the course of history, structures have been erected in different parts of the world in order to observe and celebrate the moment when the sun stands still. on 21 june each year there is a transition from spring to summer. these locations eventually became observatories or ritual sites. people still come together at sites around the globe to observe this phenomenon, regardless of age, origin, race or religion.

a long boardwalk leads to the pavilion

marc van vliet has installed a wooden structure in the north of the netherlands called ‘de streken’ that changes with the tides. placed in the center of zeven streken (seven illuminated points of the compass), observers find themselves in the middle of a large entity that occupies the landscape out as far as the horizon. with each passing hour of the day, the project reveals different aspects of its sand flats location, that serves as a meeting location illuminated by the sun.

video courtesy of TUIG / marc van vliet

the form and function of the installation draw on the breadth and openness of the wadden landscape. anything placed here is lost in the void, making the horizon a determinant, because depending on how the object is placed, its form will change with the tide. the almost imperceptible variation takes place twice per day, directing the visitor’s gaze outwards during the ebb tide, and inwards during the flood one.

the installation takes place in the context of ‘leeuwarden 2018’ (cultural capital) and ‘sense of place’. it aims to travel along the wadden over the next four years. at each location, a connection will be sought between the sand flats, the sun, and the horizon with the illuminated points of the compass and the tide. 

the form and function of the installation draw on the breadth and openness of the wadden landscape

with each passing hour of the day, the project reveals different aspects of its sand flats location

one of the seven mirros

visitors walking on the bridge

inside view during high tide

sunny day with high tide

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: juliana neira | designboom