• EX SITU • IN SITU • | Dislocated-Relocated
Beneath Dom Square lie the remains of a 2,000-year-old Roman fort.
The Roman Empire fell and the fort collapsed.
The remains were reused to build the Holy Cross Chapel.
In the Middle Ages, the Gothic Dom Church was built on the site of the Chapel of the Holy Cross. However, during a severe storm in 1674, the nave collapsed. The debris lay between the tower and the choir for a century and a half. That is where Dom Square is now located.
Plane trees were planted in the middle of the 20th century on Dom Square. In their roots, these trees absorbed the traces of the rich history of this place. Six of these plane trees had to make way for the construction of DOMunder under Dom Square.
In 2013, the plane trees were replanted in Maximapark as an archaeological monument “ex situ”.
Together, the trees form a cross, referring to the Holy Cross Chapel.
The archaeology in their roots connects the historic city with its modern expansion. The Gothic ornaments remained after the renovation of the Dom Tower. Together with the plane trees, they will find their place here in the Maximapark in 2023.
An ode to the preservation of nature, history and materials.
- Commissioned by:
- Brokkenmákers, Foundation DdM en Foundation Friends of the Máximapark
- Location:
- Máximapark Leidsche Rijn
- Year:
- 2023
- With thanks to:
- Carel Nengerman Fund, Elise Mathilde Fund, Fentener van Vlissingen Fund, K.F. Hein Fund, Utrecht Culture Fund, Utrecht Entrepreneurs Fund, Initiatives Fund | Municipality of Utrecht