Florentijn Hofman, 2009

IBS Al-Qoeba, Terwestenstraat 105, Terwestenstraat 105, The Hague

Location: Islamic Elementary School Al-Qoeba (in 2009 still Public Elementary School Het Spectrum), Terwestenstraat 105, The Hague
 

In 2009 Florentijn Hofman, in collaboration with Jasper van der Made, designed two wooden treehouses for the two playgrounds of elementary school Het Spectrum (now IBS Al-Qoeda). The artwork was realized within the framework of the municipal regulation 'art in schools' and was supervised by Stroom Den Haag. The treehouses symbolize being young, dreaming before going to secondary school and ending up in the hard world of numbers, performance and becoming an adult.

The treehouses were made from two 30-year-old plane trees that were specially selected because of the right crown and branch formation. The treehouse on the left square is very romantic, with a veranda and window. On the right square there is a three-storey house; it looks as if the building has been hijacked from the Schilderswijk. The treehouses are not accessible and too high to climb in, but they are clearly visible from the schoolyard and from the classrooms.

Website Florentijn Hofman

Also made possible by:
Haag Wonen, the City of The Hague (real estate department) and Stroom Den Haag.

Pers
SPITS, 10 April 2009
Algemeen Dagblad/Haagse Courant, 10 April 2009
Algemeen Dagblad/Haagse Courant, 8 April 2009

treehouse in early May
photo: Frank Hanswijk
the first treehouse
photo: Stroom Den Haag
the second treehouse
photo: Frank Hanswijk
festive inauguration on 9 April 2009
photo: Frank Hanswijk
festive inauguration on 9 April 2009
photo: Frank Hanswijk
festive inauguration on 9 April 2009
photo: Frank Hanswijk
festive inauguration on 9 April 2009
photo: Frank Hanswijk
firsttree house in production
photo: Frank Hanswijk