'Lotte Stam-Beesesquare'
2026
KRIMPEN AAN DEN IJSSEL - A single street sign transforms the entire village centre into a collaborative work of art. For those who realize this, it's unprecedented.
The 'Lotte Stam-Beesesquare' invites us to imagine the future of the village heart together. How? Everyone who uses this cultural space becomes a participant in its ongoing transformation. Through our actions, we give meaning to the environment. Whether we gather here to dance or park our cars, we help shape what this place can become. By truly using the square in new ways, we collectively build the village heart of tomorrow.
In 2024, I was invited by policy advisor Ellen Jacobs (Culture, Language and Events) to explore, as an artist, the absence of a vibrant village centre. Since 2006, the municipality has been developing plans for the town centre. Ellen recognised an opportunity to approach this issue from multiple perspectives, drawing on our shared cultural context.
I have noticed that the people shaping the design of the town centre today remain largely invisible. Those who use the centre are not participants in its development process. Through my work as an artist, I aim to contribute to a different perspective on what a vibrant village heart can be.
quote from the article: A Life in Service of Spaces for this and that
LOTTE STAM-BEESE - The architect and urban planner Charlotte (Lotte) Ida Anna Stam-Beese lived in the village. I wrote the article 'A Life in the Service of Spaces for this and that' about her life and work for the spring issue: Van Yssel Tot IJssel, published by the Historische Kring Krimpen aan den IJssel (HKK). Stam-Beese played a major role during the reconstruction period. Her most important urban design projects for Rotterdam are: Kleinpolder (1947 1952), Pendrecht (1949 1952), and Alexanderpolder/Ommoord (1957 1971). I have been inspired by her wisdom; she was far ahead of her time.
From 1963 onward, she lived at IJsseldijk 284 in a dike house that was renovated to her design. In the 1960s, she draw a second river crossing for the village, and the metro line was extended in a loop from Capelle to Krimpen. She firmly believed that living environments are built together -- as a reflection of the times. "The ground belongs to all of us," was one of her famous sayings. She died in this village on November 16, 1988, at the age of 85. The house where she lived was recently demolished.
quote from column: Searching for a 'Heart of Krimpen'
When we consider this centre, what can we learn from Lotte Stam-Beese? Village centre's everywhere are struggling, and vacancy rates are high. At the same time, young people lack their own space to gather, and there's a significant shortage of affordable housing. Therefore, we need to manage the available space differently. The future of a vibrant village centre lies in integrating functions. Spaces for one and the other.
LOTTE STAM-BEESESQUARE - After thorough research (20242025) in dialogue with people in this area, I presented an imaginary village square with the municipality late last year: the 'Lotte Stam-Beesesquare.' This gives us the opportunity to envision a village heart that exists (for now) only in the world of our imagination. It asks residents to imagine how we want to use the bustling village square.
quote from Magazine De Klinker: How does Krimpen get a vibrant heart?
The street sign appeals to the users of the village center to use the square differently. By, for example, dancing the parked cars out of the way, it becomes possible to open a door to a new future. Because lets be honest. If the privatized village space does not move along with the collective desires of our time, then we learn from Lotte Stam-Beese that, with unprecedented optimism, we can build our ideals over it through the air.
Krimpen aan den IJssel is home to 30,000 people, but is the village also being "built by residents"?
Kind regards, Edwin Stolk.
The 'Lotte Stam-Beesesquare' is the result of the local research with the title 'cardio_vision' and the artistic concept 'De Voorstelling' (the performance). It was made possible with a contribution from Innovatielabs and co-financing from the municipality of Krimpen aan den IJssel.
'Lotte Stam-Beesesquare' was mentioned in the following media: Magazine De Klinker.
'Lotte Stam-Beesesquare' follows the concept behind: #theorganisation
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