The Books of Groningen by Daniel Libeskind

To commemorate Groningen's founding in 1040, architect Daniel Libeskind was asked to create a project for the city. Libeskind developed a master plan of 9 city "gates" or Stadsmarkeringen along routes into the city and provided nine renown figures with a set of unique requirements to follow. These hand picked artists, received a briefing in an aluminum cover bound with nuts and bolts, stating: "The Groningen authorities are interested in the problem of the identity of the city: now that the city gates have vanished, in what contemporary way can the city dweller be helped to regain a feeling of involvement with his city, also from an architectural point of view. I am glad that I have been invited for this project, particularly now that the authorities are beginning to realize that it is not enough to build such gates once more, or to realize a similar representation of this identity. Because, as we all know, in a world of aeroplanes and television, such a thing is no longer possible." S01 - Historian Kurt Forster S02 - Economist Akira Asada S03 - Libeskind himself S04 - Artist Thom Puckey S05 - Architect Gunnar Daan S06 - Composer Luigi Nono who passed away before he could respond was replaced with his friend, playwright Heiner Müller S07 - Choreographer William Forsythe S08 - Architect John Hejduk S09 - Architect Leonhard Lapin S10 - the center of the plan by philosopher Paul Virilio Libeskind leveraged the city's ancient name, CRUONINGA and seven additional variables; a color, time, an inner space (a typical spot somewhere in the city), a Liberal art or art form, a substance or activity, and a muse. The challenge for each responder was to create a contemporary "gate" to the city.