Memory balcony

The Memory balcony (het Geheugenbalkon) offers a unique view on the construction work of the southern ring road in Groningen. The 13-metre-high watching tower is made from old parts of the ring road and allows the visitor to observe the development of the new ring road and the Zuiderplantsoen (a new park). In this way, the past and future of Groningen are connected in 1 interactive work of art.

From the new watching tower, Groningers will have a view on the work of the ring road in the coming years. The historical layers of Groningen were the starting point for the design of the Memory balcony. By doing research Studio L A found out that there have been many historical layers. But each time with every new development, a layer has been completely erased and something new has been laid over it without keeping the memories alive. Studio L A has therefore reused elements from the southern ring road and incorporated them into the Memory balcony. If you climb up, you will find an original guard rail, recycled concrete and asphalt. The artwork thus connects past, present and future.

The wish for a meeting place came from local residents. But the contractor, Combinatie Herepoort, also planned a watching tower for the construction work. These two wishes came together with the development of a family of architectural objects. Kunstpunt Groningen asked Studio L A to make a design, which resulted in the Memory balcony. The Memory balcony is the first work of art in a series of works around the Zuiderplantsoen, which invite play and encounter.