An unknown urban square receives a temporary makeover
Norell/Rodhe’s Raamland, situated between Oostmeers and Westmeers, takes the form of a new community garden. The Swedish architecture firm has redeveloped the square in Sint-Obrechtsstraat and transformed it into an exciting and inspirational meeting place.
The installation’s name alludes to the history of De Meers, a marshy urban area that remained uninhabitable until the 17th century. As a result, it was mainly used as a ground on which to locate the wooden frames, or raamen, on which Flemish cloth was hung to dry.
Daniel Norell and Einar Rodhe have introduced a new and contemporary framework for the site, which they have constructed from a mix of standard components and unique finds. The project is largely constructed from second-hand materials.
Raamland is a testing ground for re(re)valuation and an investigation into how we can deal with material flows differently in the future. It approaches architecture as a living organism, as something that gradually changes shape, together with its wider environment: the city.
