Kim Kool Atlantic Wall In nieuw perspectief
T: 06 192 684 64 E: kim.kool@me.com W: kimkoollandscape.wix.com/kimkool
Amsterdam Academy of Architecture Graduation Projects 2016-2017
Landscape Architecture
Kim Kool Atlantic Wall In new perspective
Hidden behind the gates of the water abstraction area south of Katwijk, a massive concrete wall cuts mysteriously waving through the landscape. Sometimes as a barrier, high and visible, sometimes lower at the ground, camouflaged in the surrounding dune landscape. The 1.5 km long tank wall in Katwijk is a historic remnant of the Atlantic Wall, built in the Second World War. It’s one of the largest defence works (5000 km) Europe has ever known. The Atlantic Wall was a sophisticated three-dimensional system in a new era of warfare. Where the enemy was not only on land, but also in de sky and sea. Looking at our way of dealing with cultural heritage, we see a changing movement in how we approach it. At the beginning, after the war, we wanted to destroy everything. The main goal was progression, and the objects along the coastline were reminding us of the occupation. That is also why the tank wall in Katwijk is unique because of its remaining length and authentic state. Because it was only about ten/fifteen years later when we realized that some elements were actually worth to keep. For example as monuments, to remember all the victims, or museums with educational purposes, to tell the next generation that this can never happen again. And now currently we are focused on victims and witnesses who have experienced the war. Collecting all their stories before it’s too late. In my project I want to show that this way of collecting stories from witnesses could help us in how to deal with cultural heritage. Because this beautiful piece of cultural heritage does not only bring us the past, but it can lead us to an understanding of our attitudes about and feelings for what persists (sometimes not too well) in the present (Michael S. Roth). For example, when I was standing in front of the wall, it took me out of my history research into the present where at that moment a huge wall was built between Turkey and Syria. And for me the whole project is about this: creating that moment of personal interaction between person and object. But to create that moment of interaction I think it is necessary to look at the object as a (silent) witness. I see it as my job to create a environment where the object can tell his story and speak to you, and where you feel save to receive the story and listen. The design is creating a balance between object and interventions. By maintaining the authenticity, but allow usage. By creating a context, but also the freedom to interpret and discover it for yourself. One of the main interventions is making the area around the tank wall publicly accessible. This creates a new route across the dunes. Where once the wall was whole, new interventions reconnect the remaining structure of the wall to the coast. Stairs are placed along the route, to have a moment of confrontation with the wall. Sometimes from a distance, sometimes close by. Which make it possible to walk along or on top of it. The route ends in the higher sea dunes, where as in the system, land, sea and sky meet and where the local structure of Katwijk hits the giant European line of the Atlantic Wall. The whole route creates a moment of reflection, a new perspective.
Graduation date 09 05 2017
Commission members Dingeman Deijs (mentor) Marieke Timmermans Ronald Rietveld
Additional members for the examination Eric Luiten Bram Breedveld
Kim Kool
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Landscape Architecture G evechten
2017
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2017
f A scisme K
1939 1945 M- DANIELLE E M DROZDZEWSKI O R Y- G O E S U N P R O M P T E D I N
LANDSCAPES DEVOID OF REMINDERS
We can still feel the impact of the Second World War, but the memory (and the necessity to preserve the heritage of the Atlantic Wall) will go unprompted in landscapes devoid of reminders.
3600 defence mechanism
Kim Kool
NEDERLAND KRIEGSMARINE
20km
20km
The navy had several places with artillery pointed at sea to defend the entire coast at a distance of 20 kilometers.
LUFTWAFFE
Radars, with the right angle to hit airplanes, were placed in order to signal flying aircraft. They were in contact with artillery along the coast.
km
20
HEER (GROUND FORCE)
20km
20km
20km
Between the artillery pointed at sea and the sky were points on land that had to be defended. In case the artillery (pointed at sea) was shut down there were objects along the coast and in the hinterland to defend on land.
Drawing of the defence system for the Netherlands, the coastline had a defence strip with a width of 21 km.
Landscape Architecture
The first encounter is to walk right against it, to immediately feel the confrontation of a border
Stairs emphasizing the wall as a border and where you cannot overlook
Stairs emphasizing the wall as a border and where you can nearly overlook
By making the tank wall publicly accessible, a new route has been created through the dunes.
The interventions are all made of steel wires (the ones used in reinforced concrete). The idea dor the material is based on one of the original building materials, but explicit designed so it’s clear that they are added to the existing structure.
Stairs that provide access to the wall
Stairs emphasizing the void of the former wall
Kim Kool
Looking at the coast from the end of the wall, your eye is directed to the line that is slowly sinking in the ground, emphasizing the void of the former wall. In the distance the next point is visible
On top of the foundation of a former bunker, steel wires are pointed 6 meters high toward the sky. Dr awing your eye away from the land toward the second layer of defence. In the distance, the next point is again visible.
This spectacular point on top of the sea dune shows all the defence layers in one: land, sea and sky. When you look back inland, you see the bunker and the wall in the distance. Standing in the middle, the steel wires form a perfect line with the horizon. Walking through the circle you have a constantly changing and exciting new perspective.
Architect, Master of Science Urbanist, Master of Science Landscape Architect, Master of Science Architects, urbanists and landscape architects learn the profession at the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture through an intensive combination of work and study. They work in small, partly interdisciplinary groups and are supervised by a select group of practising fellow professionals. There is a wide range of options within the programme so that students can put together their own trajectory and specialisation. With the inclusion of the course in Urbanism in 1957 and Landscape Architecture in 1972, the Academy is the only architecture school in the Netherlands to bring together the three spatial design disciplines under one roof. Some 350 guest tutors are involved in teaching every year. Each of them is a practising designer or a specific expert in his or her particular subject. The three heads of department also have design practices of their own in addition to their work for the Academy. This structure yields an enormous dynamism and energy and ensures that the courses remain closely linked to the current state of the discipline. The courses consist of projects, exercises and lectures. First-year and second-year students also engage in morphological studies. Students work on their own or in small groups. The design
projects form the backbone of the syllabus. On the basis of a specific design assignment, students develop knowledge, insight and skills. The exercises are focused on training in those skills that are essential for recognising and solving design problems, such as analytical techniques, knowledge of the repertoire, the use of materials, text analysis, and writing. Many of the exercises are linked to the design projects. The morphological studies concentrate on the making of spatial objects, with the emphasis on creative process and implementation. Students experiment with materials and media forms and gain experience in converting an idea into a creation. During the periods between the terms there are workshops, study trips in the Netherlands and abroad, and other activities. This is also the preferred moment for international exchange projects. The Academy regularly invites foreign students for the workshops and recruits wellknown designers from the Netherlands and further afield as tutors. Graduates from the Academy of Architecture are entitled to the following titles: Architect, Master of Science; Urbanist, Master of Science and Landscape Architect, Master of Science.
Landscape Architecture
Amsterdam Academy of Architecture