In the gently rolling Brabant landscape just to the west of Sint-Oedenrode lies the hamlet of Rijsingen. Close by, at a spot where the Dommel River has cut through the sandy soil since time immemorial, stands the KAPKAR/TO-RXD landscape observatory. It forms part of a hiking trail that starts in the village centre and leads into the farmland around the settlement.
The KAPKAR/TO-RXD observatory is a small concrete structure, much of which is under the ground. From a distance it resembles an agricultural shed or an old bunker. It also has the air of a snapped off, hollow tree, standing in the landscape like a congealed statue. As you approach the structure, however, it becomes clear that this is an artefact. Its function has yet to be ascertained. It is a small, clear accent in the landscape, beneath the sheltering branches of two sizeable trees. Unconsciously you are drawn to it. Not until you are very close does it prove larger than you initially thought.
year: 2009
location: Sint Oedenrode, The Netherlands
client: Art Foundation Sint Oedenrode, SKOR, BKKC
manufacturing: Studio Frank Havermans + Gevers Bouwwerkzaamheden Sint Oedenrode
structural engineering: Frans van Herwijnen, ABT
video: JiaoJiao Li
© photography René de Wit, Breda
longlist: Condé Nest Traveller 2009
PUBLICATIONS
Kofferen 60 Sint Oedenrode, park left behind the headquarters of Ahrend, walking track starts there. Satellite coordinates: 51.562744, 5.441162
Like the trees, its hook form stands on the bank of the Dommel; it is fixed to the ground by two large concrete roots. The concrete skin is rough. Up close the structure does not appear very high. There is an entrance to one side. Going inside down a ramp lowers your field of vision. The usual custom with observatories is to raise the line of vision, to obtain a panoramic view. My intention with this design, however, was to raise awareness of what is close at hand. To give visitors a prospect of the field with their nose at the level of the plants that grow and the small animals that live there. You don’t see less but actually more of the landscape – the buildings disappear behind the plant growth.
The structure contains two concrete benches, from which you can peacefully absorb the landscape. There are many geese, plus swans and pheasants, lapwings and raptors. Deer sometimes appear and a hare regularly hurtles past.
A second ramp takes you further down beneath the roof, to stand in a hollow. Here you can shelter briefly from the sun or the rain. A slit in the structure lets you see the river, flowing rapidly past beneath you.
The skin of the concrete is coarse and rough like the nearby trees. A feature of this is the bark, left behind in the concrete after the formwork was removed. It gives the concrete a natural appearance. Over time it will rot away. Once this has happened, however, the concrete will have had time to form its own patina in harmony with the landscape.
Landscape Observatory final model 2008, © photo René de Wit
Landscape Observatory invironment model 2008,
testing different nature skins
testing natural materials in concrete
tacking the tree bark on the concrete forms, 2008
concrrete form parts with shooted tree bark
installing the treebark concrete form
filling the concrete form
curing of the concrete form
carefully dismanteling
dismanteled concrete form in the mended river bank
Conversation with a landscape
In 2009 we immediately descided to watch the development of the concrete bark skin experiment, it’s behaviour and how moss is getting grip on the observatory. After 10 years it is time for a professional check-up.
De Architect is interested in our story of the experiment, it has been published in March 2021. Astrid Aarsen is the perfect journalist to write the article. She has a outstanding feeling for the underground circuit of architecture. Next to Frank she has interviewed Floris Alkemade for being a regular visitor of the observatory, Dirk Sijmons on this knowledge of moss and Paul Roncken being the designer of the landscape art route.
2009
Landscape Observatory 2009, © photo René de Wit
2020
Landscape Observatory 2020, interview Astrid Aarsen with Frank Havermans
Landscape Observatory 2009, © photo René de Wit
Landscape Observatory 2020, interview Astrid Aarsen with Frank Havermans
Landscape Observatory 2009, © photo René de Wit
Landscape Observatory 2020, interview Astrid Aarsen with Frank Havermans
Landscape Observatory 2009, © photo René de Wit
Landscape Observatory 2020, interview Astrid Aarsen with Frank Havermans
Frank Havermans 2009, photo René de Wit
Frank Havermans 2020, photo René de Wit
skin 2009
skin 2020
skin 2012, photo Marcel Eekhout
skin 2015, photo Gus Tielens
skin 2019
skin 2017
skin back side above the river 2019
skin winter february 2021
left 2009, up 2020 and 2 children playing, the technical water inlet is also a water world window, 2020
water inlet
the observatory has become part of the underground game called geocaching, a logbook is hidden in a casting hole, 2020
opening 2009
visitors 2020