Het woestijnproject

Design for the Evoluon Square (Parkaanleg O.B.H.) in Eindhoven by Bureau Havocon (Shamai Haber, André Volten, and Constant).

In 1965, Phillips commissioned Bureau Havocon, to design a sculpture for the park around the 'Evoluon' building in Eindhoven. They decided to work together on a design that would span the whole park, themed around the relationship between utility and play. They called it Desert Project (Het woenstijnproject): low concrete slabs and sparse greenery create the atmosphere of an artificial desert, and vertical elements, including a 17-meter-tall chess horse, reference the ‘play’ aspect and are positioned on the concrete.

Due to other plans for the park, the Desert Project was rejected. The artists started anew, adding Peter Clough to the team. The new design was for an auditory sculpture in the park, consisting of cables stretched between pillars, creating a harp-like construction that played music when electronically triggered. Between these ‘harps,’ visitors could wander through labyrinthine passageways. In 1966, however, this design was also rejected, and the project came to a close. 

Because of the quality of the designs and its merits in terms of teamwork, the Van Abbemuseum decided hold an exhibition of the plans and models, which could be visited from December 12, 1966 till January 15, 1967. For more information, see the website of the Van Abbemuseum.