Syndesmos

Collaboration with: Serge Schoemaker Architects
Materials: Steel and electronics, year: 2024

Light Sculpture Creates Symbolic Bridge at Fort van Hoofddorp

Syndesmos, derived from the Greek word for connection, is an evocative light installation gracing the moat of the UNESCO World Heritage site Fort van Hoofddorp. This permanent, luminous artwork eloquently symbolizes the bridge between the fort and its surroundings, as well as the link between the island's rich history and its contemporary identity.

Originally constructed in 1904 as part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam, the fort has since evolved into a vibrant cultural hub within the Haarlemmermeer region. The imposing, elongated structure of the fort contrasts beautifully with the Syndesmos sculpture, which features a porous, upward-reaching steel framework that rises above the surrounding reeds. Standing at three meters high and spanning six meters across, Syndesmos commands attention and engages in a visual dialogue with the massive concrete fort.

The sculpture is composed of two angled triangles balanced on the preserved pillars of the historic bridge. These abstract forms are a nod to the triangular shape of the fortress island, with one triangle symbolizing the past and the other representing the present. At night, the undersides of the triangles are illuminated, casting a delicate interplay of light across both the sky and the water, creating a captivating nocturnal tableau.

_{Collaboration with Serge Schoemaker Architects

The artwork was commissioned by the municipality of Haarlemmermeer and was financially supported by the Province of North Holland.}
_{photography: MWA Hart Nibbrig

location (Google Maps link)}