Couperusjaar 2023, ‘Melodie’ Couperus Ypenburg | June 2023

2023 is Couperus Year. Louis Couperus (1863-1923) was a Dutch novelist and poet. His oeuvre includes a wide variety of genres: lyric poetry, psychological and historical novels, novellas, short stories, fairy tales, feuilletons and sketches. Couperus is considered one of the foremost figures in Dutch literature.

The site-specific artwork ‘Melodie’ by Martijn Sandberg, is an integral part of the masonry of the residential block Couperus, Ypenburg, Den Haag.
The stanza from Louis Couperus’ poem ‘Melodie’ (1886) is incorporated into the vertical and horizontal brick pattern of the façade, in dark coloured bricks in deep relief. The text in the unique, metres-high brick letter typeface, designed by Martijn Sandberg, encompasses the entire circumference of the building in length.

From the brickwork a song resounds, written in the metre of the bricks: ‘Luchtgewiekte melodie / Zweef klaatrend op! / Of juublend in een zilverlach, / Of smeltend… / Smeltende in een vliet / Van louter tranen…’

Click here for more photos of the artwork, in section ‘public artworks’.

Title: ‘Melodie’ (‘Melody’)
Artist: Martijn Sandberg
Location: Couperus, Ypenburg residential block, Den Haag/ NL
Measurements: masonry brick letters 165m
Material: bricks
Concept and design: 2011
Built: 2011-2013
Completion: 2013
Commissioned by: Ceres Projecten, Den Haag/ NL
Architect: Frits van Dongen, de Architekten Cie.