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The architectural firm MVRDV, in collaboration with the Van Gogh Foundation and the municipality of Tilburg, aims to draw attention to the beloved region of the renowned artist.
On March 30, 1853, in this very area of North Brabant in the southern Netherlands, the future post‑Impressionist Vincent van Gogh was born.
Historically, North Brabant has been celebrated for its stunning landscapes. Today, however, the region is facing an ecological crisis caused by human activity. Is it possible to find a balance between the idyllic nature that inspired Vincent van Gogh 150 years ago and technological progress?
On one hand, the creators of the Van Gogh Homeland project will showcase the charms of the Brabant landscape to anyone interested. On the other hand, they will demonstrate how this natural treasure can be revived and preserved.
“By combining expertise in architecture, landscape design, and sustainable development with experience in the leisure industry, the project aims to rekindle enthusiasm for the Brabant landscape among people of all ages,” the MVRDV team wrote on their website.
What the Van Gogh Homeland Eco-Center Will Entail
According to the designers’ vision, the site will feature an educational hub and recreational areas. However, the primary focus of Van Gogh Homeland will be a biennale of art and architecture, with the first exhibition scheduled for 2025. The curator chosen for this event is Winy Maas, co-founder of MVRDV.
The biennale will be a large-scale outdoor exhibition held in the region every two years. Numerous installations and other artworks will be scattered throughout North Brabant, as reported by Designboom. Visitors will embark on adventurous expeditions through temporary super dunes, plant towers, rain chambers, and houses covered in heather. Artists participating in the biennale will highlight the region’s beauty and explore different ways the landscape can be used.
In early March, the team of architects submitted the Van Gogh Homeland plan to Stein Smelders, a member of the North Brabant provincial council, who is helping to bring the project to life.
