De Afsluitdijk
Photo: Daan Roosegaarde

DAAN ROOSEGAARDE TO BRING A LAYER OF LIGHT AND INTERACTION TO ICONIC 32 KILOMETER DUTCH DIKE

-Daan Roosegaarde and his team of designers and developers kick off first phase of “Icoon Afsluitdijk”

The Afsluitdijk, a monument of global appeal and a Dutch design icon, will be strengthened in the coming years to safeguard its future and to continue to protect the Netherlands against the force of water. Together with these plans the Minister of Infrastructure and Environment Melanie Schultz van Haegen, the Dutch government and surrounding regions have asked Dutch artist and innovator, Daan Roosegaarde to reinforce the iconic value of the dike in a programme entitled Icoon Afsluitdijk.

Posted 15 July 2016

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Daan Roosegaarde and his team of designers, technicians and developers will lead us in three phases into their world of design enhancing the beauty of the 32 km long Afsluitdijk in the coming years. With a subtle second layer of light and interaction, Roosegaarde will create new connections between man and landscape on the Dutch design icon dating from 1932.

Windbirds Photo Studio Roosegaarde


Daan Roosegaarde: “Dikes are as holy in the Netherlands as cows are in India. It is an honour to be able to contribute to Icoon Afsluitdijk as a celebration of landscape art highlighting the beauty of the dike. Our goal is not to add more objects but to create a second layer of light and interaction”.		Laatste gat In de dijk Afsluitdijk Foto Afdeling Multimedia Rijkswaterstaat

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Windbirds Photo: Studio Roosegaarde		The opening weekend of 2, 3 and 4 September 2016 will mark the first phase of Icoon Afsluitdijk. The opening will highlight the rich history and the unique construction through several innovative projects. One of these projects "Windvogel" developed in collaboration with the Technical University of Delft, following the idea of ??the late Wubbo Ockels (Dutch Physicist and Astronaut) will bring the dream of energy-generating kites to life and can generate up to 100kW. Another highlight includes a special run named ‘Afsluitdijk Open’ which will enable a new audience to experience their finish on the dike in the light of the rising sun. For one day the dike will be closed for cars and open to pedestrians in order for them to experience Dutch light as depicted for centuries by the Dutch painting masters. Alongside these projects, a temporary exhibition will offer a preview into Roosegaarde’s new permanent works to be presented in the next years.

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Nieuw Land Erfgoedcentrum te Lelystad Foto Maaskant, K		About Icoon Afsluitdijk Icoon Afsluitdijk is a unique collaboration between the government and surrounding regions, positioning the dike on the global map as an icon for Dutch design, engineering and as a platform for innovation. The project creates a global destination for tourism around the dike and a showcase for The Netherlands as global leader in innovative solutions for tomorrow. "Windvogel" is inspired by the dream of Wubbo Ockels and realised in collaboration with the TU Delft and the University of Aache, Germany. ‘Afsluitdijk Open’ is organised in collaboration with the Dutch Trombose Foundation, Spieren voor Spieren and House of Sports. More information can be found on: http://www.afsluitdijk-open.nl/


About Daan Roosegaarde Daan roosegaarde is known for his social design and dynamic appearance. His idology is "Just do it and follow your intuition instead of "yes, but". His designs play with the bounderies between man, technology and space. Interaction, technological innovation and beauty are central to what he describes as "techno-poetry". Watch the Icoon Afsluitdijk trailer here> For more information: Studio Roosegaarde www.studioroosegaarde.net		AfsluitdijkOpen Photo: Studio Roosegaarde