donderdag 12 juli 2012

Radio Kootwijk

This concrete building in the heather territory of the Veluwe region, used to be the housing accommodations of Radio Kootwijk, arose as a result of the building of a shortwave transmitter site with the same name starting in 1918. The transmitters played an important role in the 20th century between the Netherlands and its then colony of Dutch East Indies. With this new technology in 1928 a radio-telephonic connection was established.

Due to the development of new technoglogies like satellite communication, Radio Kootwijk lost its position as main overseas wireless connection point of the Netherlands. In 1980 the last transmission mast was blown up and in 2004 the park was transferred to the State Forestry Commission.

The main building called "The Cathedral"  or sometimes "The Sphynx" is officially appointed as a monument. It is used as venue and scenery for several cultural events and productions, including the American film "Mindhunters" in 2004.
It is the first concrete building in the Netherlands and therefore interesting, but it reminds me a bit at the German 1930 style of megalomine architecture. Its location in the middle of nowhere and nature is rather weird and I can imagine moviemakers likes to use it.

At internet I found this image of the movie "Mindhunters"

10 opmerkingen:

  1. It is a rather imposing building. I'm glad it is still being used.

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  2. It looks like a building plucked from Gotham City. Nice that it is saved.

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  3. Yes I can definitely see the appeal for movie makers, it's such an unusual looking building, very dramatic. I see we both had sphinxes today, not quite the same haha!

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  4. interesting!
    it looks a bit like some buildings here... its pretty but also ugly at the same time, somehow.

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  5. It's a wonderful art deco building

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  6. Een zeer opmerkelijk gebouw.

    Groetjes,
    Filip

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  7. Yes .. It would be perfect in movies. I love the appearance of it in the "mind hunters"

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  8. Very "futuristic" for that time period I would imagine".

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  9. Even a concrete building can evoke such atmosphere. Pleased that it is still being used.

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