daan roosegaarde opens solar powered van gogh bike path in the netherlands

daan roosegaarde opens solar powered van gogh bike path in the netherlands
all images courtesy of studio roosegaarde

 
running 600 meters along the brabant, netherlands site where vincent van gogh lived from 1883 to 1885, dutch designer daan roosegaarde has opened the ‘van gogh-roosegaarde cycle path’, comprising thousands of solar powered stones arranged in swirling compositions likened to the painter’s renowned ‘starry night’. ‘it is the most characteristic van gogh’s painting.’ describes roosegaarde, ‘I wanted to use something that people are familiar with and give it a twist.’

an innovative technology embedded within each colored pebble sees the sea of undulating rocks set within the asphalt passageway charge during sunlight hours and illuminate by night, allowing cyclists visibility after dusk. ‘I wanted to create a place that people will experience in a special way, the technical combined with experience’, describes roosegaarde, ‘that’s what techno-poetry means to me’. forming part of the van gogh route that connects points-of-interest in the artist’s homeland, the bike path unites cultural heritage and contemporary design in a landscaped installation for public use.

‘van gogh-roosegaarde cycle path’ marks the second smart highway project between roosegaarde and heijmans, which seeks to build interactive and sustainable roads using light, energy and signage that interact with traffic. see designboom’s previous coverage of the designer’s glow-in-the-dark smart highway here.

‘van gogh-roosegaarde cycle path’ comprises thousands of solar powered stones arranged in swirling compositions

the cycle path runs 600 meters along the brabant, netherlands site where vincent van gogh lived

the illuminated stones provide cyclists visibility during the night

swirling compositions draw influence from van gogh’s ‘starry night’

glowing pebbles illuminate by night

the path forms part of the van gogh route that connects points-of-interest in the artist’s homeland