ATELIER ARI

conceptueel - cross-over - design - installatie - interactief - internationaal - land art - objecten - omgeving - sculptuur

Atelier ARI is a Rotterdam art-itecture office, founded by Joyce de Grauw and Paul van den Berg. Since 2014 they have been creating site-specific and interactive installations, sculptures and small-scale buildings within the scope of art and architecture. The clearly structured designs are always provided with a unexpected twist that responds to the physical, historical, social and/or political context.
Atelier ARI is fascinated by the search of a dialogue between the work, the visitor and the the context. The works elicit an active role from the visitor. With a conceptual approach focused on the importance of experience, Atelier ARI creates memorable moments that invite people to explore and experience their surroundings in an alternative and unexpected way.


Le Voyeur - Le Voyeur is back on its place in Parc des Iles! We replaced the temporary, wooden structure (wich was destroyed after a storm) for a much stronger shiny aluminium structure. The top of the roof is now also a mirror, so you can not only see the landscape from bird-eye perspective but the mirror also reflects the sky, so you can watch the clouds pass by. Depending on where you stand the images changes, somethimes the roof becomes a frame, almost if you can see throught the mirror and from a far the structure falls away and you only see a shiny, oval roof hanging in the sky. In 2020 we won the competition ‘Odysee des Cabanes’ The competition was set up with the aim of promoting the mining ereas of the Unesco protected Chaine de Parcs in Northern France that have been transformed into a natural park. The parc is designed on the site where the largest coal mine in Europe was once located. It contains ponds with oval islands that all have a different rich biodiversity. The interesting shapes in the landscape are particularly noticeable frome above. The surrounding man-made waste hills could give nice views from above. When we found out that these hills were not accessible to the public we decided to create a viewpoint, an inverted watch tower that offers new and unexpected views of the landscape and invites people to focus far outwards. 2022, Hénin-Beaumont, France Commissioned by Association Kraft & Euralens, Made with collaboration with metal constructer Wout Rockx Photos by Yves Bercez
Reflektor - For the Reverberation Art Festival, held from 1st to 30th June 2023 in Qingshan Village, China we created a new version of “Reflektor’ A variety of artist got invited to generate site-specific creation and performance methods . Scriptwriters, actors, dancers, architects and other artistic content creators from different fields got together to present an amalgam of different art forms and an immersive experience with installation, design, architecture, visual and performance arts. Both outdoor and indoor space were used for sound, physical, theatre and new media interaction arts, emphasising audience participation and deepening the bond between men and nature. From the natural wilderness of bamboo forests and trails, to the open lawns and reservoirs, the natural gift of the village became part of the artworks and "stages" for performance. Reflektor is a pavilion in an open space in the bamboo forest in between the hills of Qingshan village.. From the outside, the artwork is literally reflecting the beautiful surroundings, from the inside the artwork becomes an explosion of colours. People can enter the pavilion at the front or through a small entrance from the walking path at the backside. After passing through the small passage, a conical shape opens up and forms an intimate inner space where mirrors offer views on the lake and into the landscape. The brightly coloured artwork on the sloping floor is a place where you can enjoy the sun and the view, while lying or sitting down on the slightly sloping floor. The horn-like shape of the pavilion strengthens the vastness of the view. The reflecting ceiling creates a wide view on the landscape and the lake from a bird’s eye perspective and shows the world upside down. From the lake and the land on the other side, the artwork on the floor creates a strong contrast with the bamboo forest, and forms a surprising perspective and a mind-blowing image. The reflective interior provides an out of space-like and constantly moving explosion of colours. People inside the pavilion are projected several times in the walls and ceiling and become visible from afar.
Chateau d’Leau - Chateau d'Leau is a “Gazebo kinda” free standing structure on the Presqu'ile that provides shelter, a is place to rest and that offers a 360 degree view on the water of the Parc La Gare de L'Eau in Bethune. The town of Bethune is surrounded by industrial erea with lots of industrial heritage. The shape of the pavilion is inspired from the old water towers that are one of the iconic and historic landmarks in the erea. The top of the cabin has a inclined surface that will reflect and show the surroundings. It will be covered with bright ripples metal cladding. The material imitates the reflection of the water . It catches light, mirrors the environment and reflects the movement similar to a water surface. The reflection of the visitor will be rippled as if they look into the water.
Sous les Vagues - Sous les Vagues is a large art installation on the beach in front of the music festival La Bonne Aventure in Dunkerque. A temporary roof, made of more than 800 meters of thin, shiny fabric, dances above the visitors of the event. On this particular coast, the sea can be extremely far from the boulevard due to the big differences in low and high tide. The waves create a place in the shadow for the visitors, on the warm summer festival days. 2019 - Dunkerque, France In collaboration with Les Nuits Secrètes
Reframe - At first site, Reframe appears to be a simple modern cube in an old courtyard. By walking around the object Reframe provides a series of gradually changing and surprising experiences of the monumental interior space and the cube itself. In addition Reframe creates a game between the visitors of the architecture festival, which shifts the experience of observer to observed and of having control to be controlled. 2011, Montpellier, France In collaboration with Association Champ Libre, Adam Scales, Pierre Berthelomeau Photos by Paul Kozlowski & Pierre Berthelomeau
De Bananen Republiek - The Banana Republic is an interactive art installation along the route of the 73rd Airborne March, a walking tour in remembrance of the more than 1.700 British and Polish soldiers who lost their lives during the Battle of Arnhem. During the march the people are confronted with a propagandistic manifestation of the Banana Republic, to glorify the exotic and beloved Banana Plant and the chosen Banana Specie. As the walkers pick-up and eat the Bananas, the totalitarian system and the oppression is slowly broken down. 2019, Oosterbeek, the Netherlands In collaboration with Scarabee Foundation for Art & Landscape, Photos by Atelier ARI & Florien van den Driesschen
Open Border - Open Border is a large wall on the natural skating trail on the Assiniboine River in Winnipeg. The red barrier spans the river and is clearly visible in the contrasting snowy landscape. Skaters and pedestrians can cross the border over the full length. Inside the wall the atmosphere feels warmer, a friendly place that invites people to play and come together. Open Border responds to the tensed political climate. The completion of the project is at the same that the United States president confirms his plans for the construction of a wall along the Mexican border and makes the decision to close the borders for several Muslim countries. Instead of keeping people out, this wall lets people pass through. 2017, Winnipeg, Canada In collaboration with Warming Huts Competition, Sputnik Architecture & The Forks Photos by Atelier ARI
Le Voyeur - Le Voyeur is an interactive pavilion in the Parc des Îles, on a site of the former biggest coal mining factory of Europe. The pavilion works like an inverted watchtower, and invites you to observe the transformed landscape in a different way. Lying in the pavilion, people can observe an overview on the landscape from a low point. Through a large mirror, the artificial lakes and the former slag heaps of the Parc des Îles can be experienced from a bird's eye perspective.