Firemen
Eiffelgebouw Maastricht
The exhibition ‘Firemen’ confronts the risk-adverse behavior that currently characterizes our society. When it comes to the temporary use of vacant buildings, fire safety is one of the major obstacles to be overcome. After sunset visitors are invited to discover the dark Eiffel building in Maastricht.
By creating a landscape of fire in this deserted architectural icon, Maastricht’s Fire Department and RAAAF show that the thousands of vacant properties offer far more possibilities for use than one would expect.
Data
Client: International Biennale Vacancy and Reallocation
Team: Ronald & Erik Rietveld, Francois Lombarts & Arna Mackic
in collaboration with Fire department Zuid- Limburg
Location: Eiffelgebouw Maastricht
Status: Exhibited October 29 - November 4, 2011
Photography: Rob 't Hart , Huub Meijers
Video: Maurice Spees, Moving Films
Quotes from reviews
Archined
" Rietveld Master of Fire ... The fire buckets transform the empty industrial space into a mystical setting for an unprecedented ritual. The flickering fires play a fascinating game with the structure of the space….. With their artistic vision, RAAAF provides a striking example of thinking differently about vacancy. The work primarily shows the potential of vacancy in the hope that this will inspire and initiate a different way of thinking."
NRC Handelsblad
"The rustling and crackling of fire in the cathedral-like emptiness of an old factory.... The fire spectacle unfolds in the Eiffel Building in Maastricht, one of the Netherlands’ largest old factory buildings—normally closed due to its dilapidated condition. The creators of the event are Ronald and Erik Rietveld of RAAAF, who also made the much-discussed Dutch entry for the Venice Biennale, titled Vacant NL."
Think Dutch - FRAME
"Conceptual Architecture in The Netherlands" "Ronald and Erik Rietveld deliver social critism through their designs"
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