We’ll take you on a tour of Groningen’s creative and artistic hotspots. The creative minds behind these places will be delighted to tell you all about them. Feel free to draw inspiration from them. For example, the striking Wall House #2 has stood in the Hoornsemeer neighbourhood of Groningen for twenty years. A building that is ingeniously designed both inside and out. Three colourful spaces, each with its own function, are set against the strikingly large wall. It provides a space for Groningen-based artists. But you can also just pop in for a quick visit. Wall House #2 is a work of art in its own right; the indoor exhibitions are an added bonus. We spoke to his programmer Gea Schenk on the design, its content and where else to indulge your (artistic) heart in Groningen.
A marvellous house
''Wall House #2 was designed as an art object and developed further as an architectural icon,'' Gea proudly explains. When you stand in front of the building, you automatically keep staring a bit longer. From whatever angle you look at it. Colourful, futuristic and cuddly. ''Everyone who walks past it turns their head for a moment''. And that's not surprising. It certainly catches the eye. The design by renowned architect John Hejduk dates back to the 1970s. Part of a series of 24 sketches, Wall House #2 was originally intended for the US state of Connecticut. But art is boundless. Thirty years later, the first and only Wall House was built, in Groningen's Hoornsemeer district.
From the outside, the colourful storeys somewhat resemble a face. These spaces appear to stand apart from one another, yet are attached to and connected by an enormous wall measuring 18.5 metres wide and 14 metres high. Hence the name of this eccentric building. The wall also acts as a divider: every time you move to a different space, you have to walk past it. A sort of transition. An opportunity to behave differently in each space. And the entrance feels as though it’s at the rear of the building. Another unique feature. But the real surprises lie inside. ‘It’s only once you’re inside that you realise just how ingeniously the building has been designed.’
“ ‘It’s only once you’re actually inside that you realise just how ingeniously the building has been designed’ ”
Indoors
As you climb the first flight of stairs, you are greeted by a long corridor. Described by Hejduk as the path from the past to the future. To your right is the office; if you walk straight on, you enter the kitchen area. Above you is the living room, below the bedroom. And although the spaces are not actually lived in, the height of the windows is tailored to their ‘function’. In the kitchen, you’re standing, so the windows are placed at eye level. In the living room, you’re sitting and looking through the windows from sitting height. And no matter how closely you look, not a single room has right angles. In this house, no one is in a corner; we’re all on an equal footing. Everyone is welcome. And when you walk into the bedroom, you’re met by dozens of portraits. Created by Schenk himself. Faces of the neighbourhood’s residents. Wall House #2 is for the neighbourhood, for the people of Groningen. We want to connect with them, so that it spreads like a ripple, growing ever larger. So that more and more people come into contact with us and with art in general.”
A home for art
The residence has never had permanent residents. It did, however, house work by changing artists. In the first years, the art came from artists in residence, artists who temporarily found their workplace there. And for several years now, Wall House #2 has been managed by the Groninger Museum Museum. Every few months the exhibition changes, invariably consisting of local artists. ''Why look for it nationwide, when the most beautiful things are close to home? We hope that Wall House #2 can serve as a springboard. That local art can spread nationally and internationally.''
Tips from Gea
Groningen is where Gea feels at home. It’s a sort of large village, where you strike up conversations with both acquaintances and strangers. “A city with a cosy, pleasant and open atmosphere. With an appreciation for art and culture.” She therefore recommends that everyone visit Groningen at least once, or more often. “I regularly have people visiting who come to the city for a weekend. They’re pleasantly surprised; they didn’t realise it was so beautiful and fun here.” But even as a local, there’s always something going on here. “Try turning a corner, take a different route when you’re heading somewhere. That’s when you really get to experience the city.”
She also believes the mix of young and old is one of the city’s strengths. She sees this reflected in the Forum. “What a building, isn’t it? And it’s a place that appeals to everyone.” She likes to grab a bite to eat at Florentin in the Ebbingekwartier. Not just because of the menu, but also because of the surroundings. “It’s tucked away a bit amongst the houses, but once you’re there, the beautiful building really stands out.” She likes to round off the day at a viewpoint – whether it’s the one at the Forum or the one in De Onlanden nature reserve. Magical places. “Take a moment to relax here. The view over the Groningen countryside moves me; it makes me happy. It makes me proud to live here.”
“ ‘Go round the corner. That’s when you really experience the city’ ”
