Art on the Croeselaan in Utrecht, the Netherlands, houses sculptures from the collection of the municipality and the Rabo Art Collection. These features drove and helped to enable the overall transformation of the space, highlighting what it can mean for monuments to enable positive change that impacts the present and future of an entire area.
Agents of Transformation
Redesigned in 2018 and 2019, the Croeselaan used to be a 4-lane through road with one-way cyclepaths next to it. Originally designed in the 1970s to only support automobile traffic, most of the street level has been transformed. Existing and reusable raw materials and elements from the infrastructure of Croeselaan itself or the immediate vicinity were reused as much as possible in this process. The redesign of Croeselaan was intended to be as environmentally friendly as possible which has been further enabled by the many different monuments and sculptures that now define it.
Various pieces of art were installed in the space in 2019, many of which were originally located in other places in the city. Among them are the “Living Sculptures” by Christian Jankowski from 2012. “Script from the City” by Cecilia Rebergen is actually a painted conveyor belt. The strap is attached to a 2.5-meter-high inner ring of Corten steel positioned in an open knot.
Art from different periods and artists like Fernando Sanchez Castillo, Rabo Kunstcollectie, Paul Kingma, and more define Art on the Croeselaan. These pieces vary from abstract to figurative, enabling residents and visitors to have unique experiences with them individually and collectively. The selection of works was intended to showcase the diversity of art in the public space of Utrecht.
The new square can also be used for events. Audiences can gather on the steps over the Jaarbeursplein Bicycle Parking Garage that lead to the station hall. Various shops and stores have newly been set up along it as well. These opportunities further highlight the impact a transformation of an entire space can create for stakeholders, audiences and entire cities.
A Hub of Activity
The transformation of the Croeselaan has changed the space for the better, allowing it to become a hub of activity. Art on the Croeselaan was designed to showcase how a contemporary generation of artists could connect with the history of Utrecht in a way that attracted both residents and visitors, ensuring that the space would enable connection across audiences and eras.
