Gepubliceerd op 29-07-2020
Photo Viorella Luciana Photography
Many prominent figures (nobility, clergy, patricians) have made their mark on Zeeland. This can still be seen in impressive churches, town halls and many monuments. Yet this opulence also presents a challenge, because this heritage is expensive to maintain. Sometimes a new destination has to be found for a town hall, for example, because the building no longer meets modern requirements. And on very few occasions it becomes unclear who bears responsibility for a monument. As in the case of the Evertsen’s.
The irony of two admirals that have become a prop or a backdrop of receptions is turned around: now the Evertsen’s have become a brand.
Photo Viorella Luciana Photography
Photo Viorella Luciana Photography
Johan and Cornelis Evertsen were brothers and both were admirals in the first, second and third English-Dutch Wars. Because of their heroism in the naval battles, they were honored with a collective tomb. This tomb was placed in the Noord Monster church in Middelburg. In 1818 the tops was replaced into the New Church at the abbey in Middelburg. And after 1940, when the abbey and the New Church were heavily damaged in WWII, the tomb had to be relocated another time. Nowadays it remains in the “Wandelkerk” church, between the Old and the New Church in the abbey of Middelburg.
The Wandelkerk church is frequently visited and many receptions take place here. “The brothers” are the backdrop of all these receptions, but the tomb has also served -perhaps by accident- as a side table for glasses of guests. Over time, the tomb has suffered some damage and stains. Due to the displacement during the war, and the complicated ownership situation of the Abbey complex, it is now not entirely clear who bears the responsibility for the tomb of the Evertsen brothers.
We designed a ‘pageant pallet’ to be placed next to the mausoleum of the Evertsen brothers. The Evertsen&Evertsen brand reclaims the Evertsen’s presence at every reception and sells snacks for aperitifs. Part of the profits are saved for maintenance and restoration of the mausoleum. The brand, the products, the profits: it is all for anyone who is willing to adopt it. The only conditions is that the new owner takes responsibility for the mausoleum as well.
To read about the design research that preceded this design, and the importance of the term ‘falsely authentic’ in this project, you can read more here.
