Lots of news from Almere this time!

Iwan Smit mirrors the city

A striking work of art has recently been hanging next to the main entrance of the renovated Almere Centrum station. The wall on which it hangs is in a partially covered passageway that connects the bus station with the Stationsplein.

Kroonenberg Groep recently redeveloped a number of former workspaces on this square. During this work Lesley Bamberger (CEO Kroonenberg Groep) became familiar with the Zeegroene Loper, Mothership’s concept for the greening and enhancement of the attractiveness of the center of Almere. His enthusiasm for this took the form of a desire to add a work of art to the Seagreen Ribbon.

Kroonenberg and Mothership jointly formulated a commission that also fitted in with the ambitions of the Municipality of Almere for the station and the surrounding area. At the request of Mothership, the artist Iwan Smit created a beautiful colorful work entitled ‘City on Water Mirror’. The sculpture tells the unique story of Almere, the city built on the seabed, fitting in with the line of the Sea Green Carpet. He was inspired by characteristics of Almere that everyone recognizes, such as the striking buildings along the Weerwater, the mascot Ally the Monkey of soccer club Almere City and the water and greenery of the city.

The light artwork was festively unveiled by Lesley Bamberger, Danny Louwerse (Municipality of Almere) and Jeroen Everaert (Mothership). City on Water’ adds a special experience for shoppers, residents and users of the station.

Lesley Bamberger, ceo Kroonenberg Group: “In many of our projects we add art. Art provides an additional experience for visitors to an area. It inspires and sometimes stimulates new thoughts. We are very pleased with the work of art by Iwan Smit that is a special representation of the important elements of Almere. It is a work of art that you can keep looking at and always discover something new. That makes it extra special.”

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Floriade

The international horticultural exhibition Floriade is taking place in Almere this year, as no one can have failed to notice. Not everyone knows that Mothership was invited to contribute to this major event. The organization of the Floriade saw in the specially for Almere developed vision of the Sea Green Carpet a reason to call in Mothership’s expertise. The assignment to Mothership was to make the connection between the Floriade grounds and Almere Center. Mothership proposed a number of concepts that were talked-about enough to generate positive media attention, both for Almere Centrum and for the Floriade. With no fewer than three art projects, we showed our best side and we offered Almere the chance to profile itself even better. Mothership is always happy to contribute to the attractiveness and liveliness of an area with special concepts.

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The Pontoon Boulevard

Almere Centrum is located on the Weerwater; where there used to be the sea, and where land was reclaimed from the water to build the city, there is now ‘water again’, a large lake. Because of its central location, the Weerwater is gaining more and more meaning for Almere and the quay is becoming more and more fun and lively. The new Esplanade on the waterfront now has a real beach and accompanying pavilion where it is always busy. And it was precisely there that an enormous construction briefly lay in the water.

It took a lot of work this time, but on May 6 it was really beautiful: the Pontoon Boulevard! An impressive long walkway across the water, from the Esplanade, next to the beach. As part of the Sea-Green Carpet, especially for Floriade, the public could view the city from the water for three weeks; a beautiful sight.

Mothership designed the 180 meter long floating pier, reaching out to the Floriade grounds on the other side of the Weerwater. At the end of the pier there is a circulation. The whole thing consists of pontoons that were specially manufactured for the waterfront. They are made of durable material and are rented out afterwards.

At the end of the pier was a large square, the circulation, with in the middle a water artwork in the form of a geyser, by artist Meike Justine Ziegler. This work, ‘Nieuw Flevo Peil’ (NFP), was created in collaboration with the future museum M: an interactive fountain that propelled water upwards to the rhythm of the heartbeat of the residents of Almere. Residents were asked what made their hearts beat faster, and this was converted into a pulse.

A special experience for visitors to the Floriade and the residents of Almere!

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Power Flower

Mothership also designed the Power Flower, a spectacular light show that has been lighting up the sky above the Weerwater like never before since it opened on April 13. With the advanced lighting technique that was also used during the Eurovision Song Contest, on the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam…

Twenty lamps in a Tennet high-voltage pylon in the middle of the lake make a festive flower of light bloom every evening between sunset and midnight for the duration of Floriade, 180 days. The flower changes character, shape, color. The new flowers are designed together with the residents of Almere.

In the dark, a fairy-like atmosphere is created on and around the water, with the light reflecting on the dark mirror of the water’s surface. An evening walk along the Esplanade will be extra special. Power to the Flower!

Thanks to Tennet and Spie, this wonderful installation on the water could be realized.

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The Bobbing Forest

We told you about it before and if you visited the Floriade you may already have seen it: the Floating Forest! Conceived, developed, tested and executed by Mothership, it lay for five years in the Rijnhaven in Rotterdam. The Municipality of Rotterdam offered the Forest as a gift for the duration of the Floriade. Rotterdam did not give a bunch of flowers, but a bunch of trees! Also at this new location it does its job, asking for attention to climate change and the relationship between man and nature, excellently.

It has now been announced that the Dobberende Bos will get a permanent berth. Where? We will announce that later.

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A first at the Wereldhavendagen!

The well-attended event on September 2, 3 and 4 in the port of Rotterdam will be the scene of a first: a pre-announcement of a spectacular light artwork that Mothership designed for four bridges in the Drechtsteden area.

After the magnificent light show during the Eurovision Song Contest, ‘The Swan Flies’, the honor is now given to a typical port phenomenon. For an enormous crane pontoon is given wings and dances over the river towards the Drechtsteden! The Crane flies above the city!

With this unique event we are drawing attention to a large light show in the autumn. The Crane will be a ‘small’ part of the boat parade on Saturday, September 3.

Because from 14 to 19 November, the Mothership concept will put the Drechtsteden in the spotlight. Something that does not really suit the nature of the inhabitants, for whom modesty is more important than pride. And proud they may be, those inhabitants, because their region develops and houses maritime companies that are known all over the world for their innovative expertise.

Unique to the region? The water – as enemy and as friend, as separation and connection. That is why our concept involves putting iconic bridges plus the Drierivierenpunt in the spotlight. From these locations, enormous beams of light are waving and can be seen for miles around. And each one tells its own story about that specific spot, about the beauty and strength of the region. Because everyone agrees that this region deserves these spotlights. Now it’s up to the residents themselves: more confidence and more pride!

The underlying assignment for Mothership? To help put this region firmly on the map as an area that deserves attention and where it is good to live, study and work. Also for young talent! Mothership will develop the project with all the associated Drechtsteden, and is a strategic partner of DEALDRECHTSTEDEN.