In December 2017 a further competition proposal for the artistic design of Lutherplatz, a square in Langen near Frankfurt, was submitted. No decision was taken on the competition in early summer. Instead it was repeated with a deadline at the end of the year. Following the “Bibelrunde” concept (see Report 08/2017), the concept “Das offene Buch” (The Open Book) was produced in addition.
in stylised form
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of opening
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to the moving
elements
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with L-shape
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of the book
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of the book
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in the ground
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from outside
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of the inner surfaces
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of the inner surfaces
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of the inner surfaces
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of the inner surfaces
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of the inner surfaces
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of the inner surfaces
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of the inner surfaces
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of the inner surfaces
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of the inner surfaces
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on the site
(photo montage)
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on the site
(photo montage)
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on the site
(photo montage)
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The idea
The open book is a symbol of the historic achievement of Martin Luther. With his translation of the Bible, he made the scriptures generally available. He enriched communication between people through his linguistic artistry. He opened the book for humankind, and in this way is influential to this day – far beyond his theological significance. The public square in Langen that bears his name is linked to him even more closely by the symbol of the open book. The name is thus not merely a label but becomes a visible identity. Thanks to its double gesture, the open book is also a symbol for making an approach, which gives a public square its human function.
Perception
Lutherplatz is an extremely heterogeneous visual cosmos. It conveys a lively clutter of many verticals and horizontals. In these surroundings, a massive rectangle that radiates colour and above all is placed diagonally is a feature that dominates the space. In this lies an antithesis not just of form but also of content: in everyday life there appears a spiritual element, an alien body whose function – in contrast to everything else – consists in its impulses to thought. Those who approach the open book discover a lively interior: the metal surfaces inside display reflections that change with every movement of the beholder. The open book is therefore not empty, but possesses visual abundance.
The form
The open book becomes visible through the movement of the book covers, which describe the process of opening. The book covers are in action in the opening process. The spine of the book remains almost unchanged. The pages of the book follow the movement of the covers. The art object is therefore reduced to the essential action, to the book covers. The spine and pages of the book are present only as an imaginary “in between”. The viewer thinks of and spiritually sees them with the rest. The appearance of the open book is at its liveliest in the process of opening. The diagonal placement corresponds to the position of active reading. The colour denominates essential characteristics of the book: inside and outside, front and back. Luther’s initial L brings about a differentiation of the surface and thus enhances the spiritual colour effect.
Technical matters
The open book consists of two plates of stainless steel, rectangles measuring 150 cm in width and 200 cm in height. The angle diverges from the vertical by 20°. This results in a real total height of 215 cm, as one of the corners disappears into the ground. The opening angle of the two “book covers” is 60°. This leads to a total width of 230 cm and a total depth of 200 cm. The thickness of the plates is 1 cm. On the outsides, the plates (book covers) are coated with extremely fade-resistant acrylic art paint (Lascaux) and a UV protective layer. On the insides, the uncoated stainless-steel surfaces have an industrial polish. The insides and outsides are also provided with protection against graffiti.
The message
The open book makes this square a Luther Square more emphatically than before. The relationship between Martin Luther and the Book of Books, i.e. between the name and the visual signal, is evident and scarcely requires explanation. At the same time, Lutherplatz is a traffic hub, a place for shopping and a site for relaxation. Here, therefore, the day’s interests mingle. The open book reveals a historical dimension that connects everyday life to a centuries-old past and is a reminder that pioneering deeds of yesterday create the prerequisites for living as we live today. For us Luther opened the Bible, and thus opened up knowledge, access to education and an essential part of our linguistic culture.
Durability
The impression of floating and spirituality is supported by extreme stability. The two plates (book covers) consist of stainless steel with a thickness of 1 cm and are anchored about 100 cm deep in the concrete foundation. One the one hand, they remain alive due to possible vibration. On the other hand, they cannot be bent or folded over at the base, even if several men were to suspend themselves from the object simultaneously. The resistance to fading of the surfaces is ensure by the quality of the art paint and the protective UV coating. An anti-graffiti coating means that any disfigurement can easily be removed. Over time, scratches will appear in the surface, but these belong to the history of the object and are “written into the open book”.