More greenery and a softer shade of red in the final design of the Memory Pavilion

The columns currently visible in the Zuiderplantsoen are remnants of the old southern ring road (Ring Zuid). They have been preserved and will eventually be transformed into the Geheugenpaviljoen. All columns will receive an anti-graffiti coating, and a bench will be placed at the column on the east side of the Winschoterdiep.

The modifications to the design stem from a new round of public participation. In recent months, residents were able to contribute ideas for adjustments during a walk-in meeting and through a sounding board group. The artists of Studio L A incorporated dozens of suggestions into their final design.

The final design was presented on May 21 from 16:30 to 20:00 during a walk-in meeting at the Poortershoes (Oosterweg 13). From May 22 onward, the design is also available to view on this page.

Lieselot Van Damme, director of Kunstpunt, commented on the creation of the final design:
“Over the past months, we have worked intensively with the Municipality of Groningen and Studio L A. The new participation process, including the walk-in meeting and the sounding board group, provided valuable insights and new ideas. We believe a strong final design is now in place and look forward to the next phase.”

This summer, the environmental permit for the artwork may be submitted. The realization of the pavilion is expected during the course of 2027.

1. Meeting place and stage

The design is partly inspired by the wishes of residents from the Oosterpoort neighborhood for the layout of the Zuiderplantsoen, collected during a fair in 2016. Among their wishes were a stage for performances and activities, and a place to gather.

The Geheugenpaviljoen is the second in a series of artworks sharing the same vision for art in the Zuiderplantsoen. In 2017, Kunstpunt asked several artists to create a conceptual design for a first artwork and present an overarching vision. An art committee—consisting of residents, an urban planner, the contractor consortium Herepoort, and Kunstpunt as coordinator—unanimously selected the proposal by Studio L A in early 2018.

The first artwork, the Geheugenbalkon (Memory Balcony) on the Verlengde Hereweg, was completed in 2021.

2. Blending old and new

Parts of the old road, including structural supports and beams, will be reused in the Geheugenpaviljoen. These elements are combined with new additions such as a stage and a steel structure, giving them a new function. Over time, they will be overtaken by greenery from hanging plants.

For Studio L A, the history of Groningen was the starting point:
“After researching the area, we discovered many historical layers. But each time, the previous layer was completely erased and replaced by something new.”
This idea led to the reuse of elements from the southern ring road, which now form the basis of this new meeting place in the Zuiderplantsoen.

3. Green roof

An ecological rooftop garden of more than 200 m², featuring a wide variety of plants, will attract bees, butterflies, and birds, and contribute to cooling. Due to privacy concerns of nearby residents, this rooftop garden will not be accessible to visitors.

4. Gateway

The Geheugenpaviljoen is part of the Zuiderplantsoen, a green area where nature, recreation, and history come together. The design is part of the park’s broader vision, in which the site’s rich past is central.

The park design, created by Paul Kersten (bureau Wurck), reflects various historical layers—from the Ice Age with glacial boulders to fortifications and the development of the Sterrebos in the eighteenth century. This heritage is reflected in the reused materials, such as boulders and the patterns in the pathways.

Like the first artwork by Studio L A—the Geheugenbalkon on the western side of the park—the Geheugenpaviljoen serves as a gateway for cyclists and pedestrians.

The Geheugenpaviljoen is the second in a series of artworks in the Zuiderplantsoen. The first meeting place, the Geheugenbalkon, can already be visited. It is a viewing platform along the Hereweg, offering a view of the renewed ring road. The Geheugenbalkon was unveiled in July 2021 and won the Groningen Architecture Prize 2021. This structure also reuses a section of the ring road, including a guardrail.

Studio L A consists of architects Lorien Beijaert and Arna Mačkić. In their work, they explore social issues and stories, placing them into new perspectives. They have won several awards, and the Geheugenbalkon was their first permanent work in public space. 

The project is being carried out in close collaboration with the Municipality of Groningen, Combinatie Herepoort, and Aanpak Ring Zuid. Keep an eye on the website for updates on artistic developments in the Zuiderplantsoen.