Reconstructing the Floriade 1972. Amstelpark, Amsterdam, 2015

As part of the summer program of Zone2Source, KCCM researched the history of the Amstelpark, that was established for a horticulture exhibition, the Floriade, in 1972. Many residues of this Floriade are, although sometimes neglected, still visible in the park. Should we simply leave them aside or can they be a point of departure for developing new scenarios?

Archival research and fieldwork led to tentative strategies to provide this heritage with a new context and thus create a renewed experience for the visitors of the park. To test these strategies, temporary spatial interventions were created. The Orangerie serving as a direction room presents the field work and archival research which underlies these interventions.

Facts and figures Floriade 1972, Amstelpark Amsterdam

• The 2nd Floriade in the Netherlands
• Horticultural exhibition with flowers and vegetables
• From March 30 to October 1, 1972
• 4,5 million visitors
• 70 ha outdoor exhibition space
• The Amstelpark, Beatrixpark and part of ring road south formed the outdoor exhibition space
• 11 indoor exhibitions in the Amstelhal RAI (12.000 m2)
• The sites were connected by a cable car and carts
• 1170 contests
• International outdoor submissions from Belgium, Finland, West-Berlin, West-Germany, Israël, Austria, France, Canada and E.E.G.  capitol cities and many municipal contributions

Commissioned by Zone2Source. Financially supported by Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, Lectorate Art and Public Space Gerrit Rietveld Academy Amsterdam, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Noord-Holland and Stichting Stokroos.