Since today there is a guard house in the brand new residential area of Engels Park. Timbertown Folly, as the wooden house is called, was designed by artist Peter de Kan for the municipality of Groningen. The work gives the rich history of the area a place in the neighbourhood. Timbertown Folly was officially unveiled this afternoon in the presence of the artist.
At the unveiling, former city poet Lilian Zielstra recited her poem 'Linie', which formed the starting point for De Kans work. This poem tells the special history of the new residential area in Groningen-South. In her poem, Zielstra zooms in on three historic parts of this location: the Helperlinie defense work that once stood here, the 'English Camp' where British troops were received during the First World War, and the high office towers of the Information Management Group (now DUO ) and the Tax and Customs Administration, which dominated the Groningen skyline for thirty years from 1981. They were demolished in 2011 to create space for the construction of the current residential area.
“It was great to be able to develop my work based on a poem” Peter de Kan
“It was great to be able to develop my work based on a poem,” says De Kan. “Lilian's poem is really an incentive to look for the history of this place.” With the Timbertown Folly, De Kan gives both Zielstra's poem and the history of the district a home in public space. The unveiling of the folly was festively concluded in the afternoon with an English high tea for those involved and local residents.
The name of the wooden house refers to a popular cabaret group that originated in the English Kamp and that performed throughout the Netherlands. Folly means 'fool' and is also the English term for a 'useless' architectural object. De Kan: “Inside the folly you will find Lilian's poem, accompanied by a reminder of the Helper Line and those office flats that stood here”. Visitors are welcome to walk into the cottage, take a seat and rest or wait. More information about the artwork can be found here.