Artwork with paving

In 2019, landscape architect Ton van Beek was commissioned to redesign Molenstraat in Zundert. It had to have cultural significance, upon which Van Beek decided to dedicate the redesign to Vincent van Gogh. Van Gogh was born in 1853 opposite the town hall, where the Van GoghHuis stands today. So it is very appropriate that from the Van GoghHuis you now look out on his world-famous self-portrait, which has been immortalised in paving.

Photo credits: Krinkels B.V.

Implementation in twill bond

Choice of stone and colour scheme

GeoRetron Prestige Margine bricks were chosen to create the self-portrait because of their intense colour and colourfastness. This is because this stone has an extra-fine closed top layer of 10 mm, which consists of 100 per cent colourfast natural material. The next step was to find out which four colours would together form the intended image, as Van Gogh's silhouette had to stand out clearly. In close coordination between the executor, architect and MBI, oxide black, dark brown, light brown and red were chosen.

Wallpaper rolls as guide for the twill bond

In order to lay the different colours properly, contractor Krinkels B.V. used a special computer programme to translate the portrait into a technical design with bricks in twill bond. Paper strips measuring 30×1.5 metres were printed with the laying pattern and colour code of the stones to be laid. This required precision work and moving the stones manually. In practice, the chosen working process in combination with the chosen stones proved to work very well: ‘It is a bit slower than ordinary paving, but the pace was not too bad,’ says the site manager. With three men, Krinkels B.V. managed to pave 80m2 every day.

See the construction timelapse here.

Refurbishment of central area

The paving of De Markt is part of a total redesign of the Zundert city centre area, involving a total of some 17,000m2 of paving. Besides the square with the portrait, the small square near the Van Gogh church has been transformed into a green oasis. Cars have given way to grass islands with seating edges. These park borders were custom-made by MBI, on which various texts have been incorporated. Naturally, these texts are also linked to the Van Gogh theme and the surroundings.

Connection with arboriculture

The architects drew on Zundert's cultural and economic pillars for their design. The trees in the 50 specially designed tree planters refer to the arboricultural sector. These containers are mobile, so that the annual flower parade has space.

Choice of GeoRetron bricks

The image is executed in GeoRetron bricks. We asked colleague Erwin van Regenmortel about the background to this choice. ‘The project had to be realised within a certain budget, and then the choice for this alternative to baked bricks is quickly made. The similar authentic look comes from the top layer incorporating natural colour materials. A nice bonus is that the bricks' shape retention means that grout contamination is less likely. Specifically for this project, colourfastness is also important. Natural colour materials have been added to GeoRetron. Unlike bricks with dyes - whose colour fades with sunlight - bricks with colour materials retain their colour. The granules in the top layer of GeoRetron ensure that they retain 100% colour and are less susceptible to weathering.’