The Leien is a 6 km-long Antwerp boulevard, an offshoot of the city’s most valuable economic asset, the river Schelde. Reconsidering the question for an iconic Leien tile, a design is sought, rich enough in potential associations and specific enough to become emblematic of the city of Antwerp. Tile is developed as an economic product- a means to interpret urban space- rather as an artistic goal in itself.
A poignant trident shape was distilled. The specific contour allows for a rich cross-connected pattern, powerfully open to the eye of the viewer. The finishing enhances the perceptive freedom of the design: the grooved surfaces of the large concrete tiles allow for accidental group formations. Depending on the light and the movement of people, fleeting impressions of zones appear, similar to the shadow cast by trees or clouds. Combining hard logic, tactility, and scale play, a subtle three-dimensional paving comes to being, evoking urban poetry beyond decoration.