‘Grass sculpture’ Re-Designs Dutch History

Rietveld Landscape and Atelier de Lyon have re-shaped a Dutch historical site, turning a military dyke into an amphitheatre surrounded by angular hills.

Lek Dyke is part of the New Dutch Waterline, an 85-km ring of canals and waterways. Built as a military barrier, the land was shaped to flood on command, making passage for invading soliders treacherous. This site, an inundation lock, is guarded by an 18th-century fort.

The ‘grass sculpture’ is built around both new and historical buildings – a new ‘fort’ by MONK Architecten crests the ampitheatre, while the designers have silhouetting the bunkers through uneven hills. Pathways ring one side of the ampitheatre and white steps slice into the terraced slope.

Rietveld Landscape and Atelier de Lyon have re-shaped a Dutch historical site, turning a military dyke into an amphitheatre surrounded by angular hills.

Lek Dyke is part of the New Dutch Waterline, an 85-km ring of canals and waterways. Built as a military barrier, the land was shaped to flood on command, making passage for invading soliders treacherous. This site, an inundation lock, is guarded by an 18th-century fort.

The ‘grass sculpture’ is built around both new and historical buildings – a new ‘fort’ by MONK Architecten crests the ampitheatre, while the designers have silhouetting the bunkers through uneven hills. Pathways ring one side of the ampitheatre and white steps slice into the terraced slope.

The space forms a public space that is intended to attract visitors, make Dutch history feel contemporary and – with deck chairs on hand – provide a relaxing afternoon.