Aldo van Eyck-paviljoen, 1965-1966 (rebuilt in 2005)

‘Humane architecture’ 

The Aldo van Eyck pavilion in the sculpture garden is as faithful as possible a reproduction of the temporary pavilion that this Dutch architect designed in 1965-1966 for the 5th International sculpture exhibition ’66 in Arnhem. As in all the designs of Van Eyck, who advocates a ‘humane architecture’, circles and curves play an important role in the building.

Agile character

The pavilion consists of six parallel walls of light grey breeze blocks, which create a kind of corridors. In these five corridors, semi-circular spaces are created. The walls support a transparent roof, through which the diffused light enters. Despite its compactness, the building has an agile and friendly character.

Counterpart

With its eye-catching layout, the Aldo van Eyck pavilion forms a counterpart to the Rietveld pavilion. The architecture of Rietveld is open and in contact with the surrounding sculpture garden on all sides. The Van Eyck pavilion is a more closed building, where the observer ‘bumps into’ the exhibited sculptures, as it were.