Noorder Krul
The most perpetual structure of the city is the infrastructure. While the tracks of the ‘via’ have been transformed into fly-overs, trails endure as fossilised dynamism between real estate.
Ban cars for one day from the highway and people wander out to discover these high-speed lines by foot or bike. An altered speed changes perspective and gives a completely different experience. It allows for time, space and insight. The road as an object becomes part of the journey. What was once ordinary becomes part of a sequence of places in stead of repetition of the same.
In Sevilla travellers discover an enormous parasol by J. Mayer H. with a shape mimicking movement. Petrified motion part of a route architecturale. Grand gestures simulate a roller-coaster of effects.
However these icons are everyday practice for civil engineers. A tour de force is no more than an interchange. The same applies for the Noorderburg. No stararchitect required. The grand gesture is already present. It just needs an installation to make it visible and functional. Retain the exit, cut off the rest, add three follies and it is quite possible to stimulate daily use and seasonal activities. ‘De Krul’ will amplify events and other programmatic highlights.
location: Noorderbrug, Maastricht
type: research and design, in between usage
client: self initiated
team: Tim Prins, Mark Proosten, Nicole Cloudt
status: ongoing
photographs: Studio Stad, Moniek Wegdam