Lara Almarcegui
Norfolkline’s abandoned premises open to the public

The project’s aim was to open the abandoned premises of the Norfolkline, which are located in Scheveningen’s harbour, to the general public.

Ever since the Norfolkline company left the premises, nature has been able to freely develop and these days the only factors that influence the landscape are the wind, the rain, the sun and the specific limitations of the premises themselves. Lara Almarcegui’s project gave people the opportunity to explore the former Norfolkline premises in their currently vacant state before the area is redeveloped. She demonstrated that abandoned land is an important part of the urban environment. Indeed, these urban landscapes that bear no function and have, essentially, been handed over to fate, appeal to our imagination since they offer unlimited possibilities.

Development of the Norfolk premises and the Noordelijk Havenhoofd (Northern Pier)
Scheveningen is standing on the brink of major changes in terms of urban development. A new boulevard that will also function as a seawall will be built, new infrastructure will be implemented and both the Norfolk premises and the Northern Pier in the dock area will be redeveloped. Certain land uses will be enhanced and new land uses will be introduced while others may disappear. The city council is currently drawing up a bill that lists the principles on which the ultimate master plan for this urban development project will be based.

Art and culture program
As part of the run-up to these new urban development plans, Stroom and SKOR (Stichting Kunst en Openbare Ruimte) have joined forces in order to set up a long-term art and culture program that will run over the next few years. Indeed visual arts can significantly boost inspiration as well as help to establish a specific image that unites the unique qualities of the dock area with ambitious visions of the future. For example, artists challenge and inspire residents, urban developers and the general public and their ideas and work serve to refocus people’s attention and create new views.

The Dag van de Architectuur (national architecture day) served as a prelude to this collaboration and a number of artists, including Lara Almarcegui, were commissioned to create a work. Instead of zooming out, like many architects and urban developers are accustomed to doing when investigating the potential of similar sites, Almarcegui zeros in in extreme detail. In doing so she reveals the qualities that are hidden between the tiles, in the walls, in forgotten corners and bushes and thereby opens up the premises to our imaginative potential.

At 6.00 pm on the Norfolkterrein, Kranenburgweg 202 in Scheveningen, Lara Almarcegui gave a once-only tour of the premises and provided commentary.

The abandoned premises are located in the Derde Haven (third harbour) of Scheveningen and cover an area of 6.5 hectares. The area stretches from the far end of the Verversingskanaal (canal) to the dunes between the Kranenburgweg and the Houtrustweg, that both border on the neighborhood of Duindorp. At the Hellingweg the premises extend in an easterly direction until they reach the 140 meter long quay and finally end at the Rijkswaterstaat (Ministry of Waterways and Public Works) premises.