Realised for ZUS [Zones Urbaines Sensibles] and the water board Vallei en Veluwe this project capture the landscape intervention between Veessen and Wapenveld; the biggest project within the 'Room for the River', the Dutch national flood prevention program.
SPIEGELZEE
2008 Katwijk aan Zee .NL
On assignment for ZUS [Zones Urbaines Sensibles] & TNO
INTERIOR VIEWS
ZUS in collaboration with T.U. Delft and TNO looked for a way to communicate these scientific facts to the general public. The result is a travelling exhibition along European coastlines starting from the beach of Katwijk, the Netherlands. The northern border of the Roman empire reached these lowlands already 2000 years ago. As a silent witness to the rising sea level, the remains of a fort lie underwater, right in front of where the Pavilion was built.
Like an aeroplane's black box, the geological eras are combined inside the Pavilion. The black cube measuring 6 x 6 x 9 meters is accessible via a large wooden staircase. Next, visitors climb via another staircase on the northern side of the building to a height of 6 meters above N.A.P. Here the journey throughout 120.000 years of sea level dynamics can begin. The climate's curve along the eras has been folded into a three-dimensional stairwell, turning history into an experience.
The photo series was captured entirely on film, across different formats and camera systems 6x4,5 cm/ 6x7 cm and 10 x 12 cm. Even though it is an old assignment, it is presented here due to the remarkable form of storytelling of this unique project.
Speigelzee: from Dutch 'Spiegel'='Mirror' + 'Zee'= 'Sea' = 'SeaMirror'
The current consensus is that man contributes significantly to climate change. CO2 emissions increase the greenhouse effect, warming the earth and raising the sea level. Back in 2008, the theme was not hitting much of the news yet. But this will happen no matter what, with or without human involvement. Geological research shows that throughout history, there has been a cycle of 120.000 years, in which the sea level fluctuates between 6 meters above and 120 meters below N.A.P. The zero level of N.A.P. Normaal Amsterdams Peil was originally the average summer flood water level in the I.J. river in the centre of Amsterdam.