Gulden Winckelplantsoen, Amsterdam, 2020
patterns in ceramic mosaic; house 1: 600 x 700 x 400h, house 2: 250 x 250 x 230 h

The Gulden Winckelplantsoen square has been given a makeover in 2020. The dilapidated square became a public-friendly place, with trees, playgrounds and places to sit. The West Amsterdam city goverment has commissioned Barbara Broekman to renew the exterior of both the sewage pumping station and the gas distribution station. The buildings on the square had to be transformed into little gems while remaining maintenance-free. Broekman's source of inspiration is the age-old carpet tradition of the Middle East and Central Asia. For her design she uses both the classic patterns of carpets and cliché images of Eastern and Western culture, which she depicts in a grid of tiles measuring ten by ten centimeters. If you look closely, you will recognize both a bicycle and a cow. Because a lot is happening on the square allready, Broekman opts for a black and white appearance because it gives peace of mind.