If the Colonies of Benevolence would qualify as UNESCO heritage, it would have a big impact on the architecture in the villages. To be on the UNESCO list, the first idea of the Colonies has to be visible in the villages, and a restoration of the monuments would have to take place.
However, the monuments show diverse layers of history that Veenhuizen went through, and if put in the wrong hands, the restoration could lead to the loss of a part of the identity. I researched the hidden stories and layers of the monuments, and by using light, found a way to integrate the stories in the buildings without harming the various layers of history. I designed a tour which guides you along Veenhuizen’s monuments; and if you are at the right place at the right time, it will reveal its hidden stories.
With this tour I want to promote appreciation of different layers of history in the architectural heritage using the valuable
connective power of small and personal
stories.
UNRAVELLED MONUMENTS
I selected six monuments, all with a different function, for which I collected stories from the 19th century until now. Through researching the architecture and interviewing the citizens about their memories connected to the buildings I was able to capture the changes that the village went through and how it affected the village and itʼs citizens. The silo, for example, was originally a symbol for the self sustainable village. When the village lost its function as colony the silo lost its function too, it became a place people rather forgot, associated with the decay of the village. The stages the silo went through portray the village, from its vibrant days to the depopulation the village went through. The architecture has told a story of trial and error in the village, how can we assist it in its ability to remain telling this story and preserve the villages' history in all its extend?
I used light, an important
element in architecure, as a way
to reveal the hidden stories of
the monuments. By creating an
installation of sylkscreened
mirrors. The mirrors are placed
in front of the monument, when
the sunlight hits the mirror the
stories reveal itself on the
monument.
A tour guides visitors to the
monuments, at the exact time the sunlight reveals the buildings' hidden stories. Additionally, the tour map informs its users of the rich history of these monuments more in-depth
