SEGD_Design - (Page 63) Finding Closure Monumental interpretives help mark the 75th anniversary of one of the Netherlands’ engineering wonders. he history of the Netherlands is the history of a people struggling to keep the sea at bay. One of the major chapters in that story is the mighty Afsluitdijk (Closure Dike), built between 1927 and 1933 as part of a system to dam off the Zuiderzee saltwater inlet and link the western and northern regions of the country. The 32-kilometer (19 mile) megadike represents an important event in the Netherland’s history and is considered a work of art. 2007 marked the dike’s 75th anniversary, and a new visitor center was opened to honor its history and recognize its socioeconomic and environmental impacts. Because the dike is so long, three large-scale interpretive landmarks were also created along its surface, each covering a specific topic related to its history. The massive scale of the dike and the heavy winds that blow across it called for “stout objects,” says Matt van Santvoord, principal of 2D3D Designers (The Hague). The team’s goal was to bring form to the strength inherent in both the water and in the structure designed to hold it back. At either end of the dike, they positioned 500x200x40 cm (16- by 6.5- by 1.3-ft.) concrete monoliths, designed with rounded corners to mimic the dike design and withstand severe weather. They’re skinned in ceramic tiles designed by 2D3D and fired at the celebrated Royal Tichelaar Makkum pottery works. T AFSLUITDIJK (CLOSURE DIKE) Client: Rijkswaterstaat (Ministry of Traffic and Water Management) Design: 2D3D Designers Design Team: Matt van Santvoord (principal in charge), Rene van Raalte, Veerle Vreeke, Anke Sentker, Gerben Starink, Haiko Oosterbaan, Joost Agterberg, Matthijs Coops Consultants: Dieben & Meijer Communication (concept and content development) Fabrication: Brandwacht en Meijer Exhibits (exhibit construction), Royal Tichelaar Makkum (tiles), Mansveld (media), Studio America (print), Eurorouting (routing and lettering) Photos: Jurjen Poels Above: Rounded concrete monoliths at either end of the 19-mile Closure Dike were designed to withstand high winds and marine conditions. The monoliths are covered with ceramic tiles designed by 2D3D and fired at the Royal Tichelaar Makkum, the Netherlands’ oldest company. Right: Steps built into the monoliths invite children and their families to climb on and interact with the structures. The steps incorporate information about the relative sea levels of various cities. 60 segdDESIGN
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