Making of //

ES lights up

There is a lot going on in Esslingen … Long shopping night, wine lounge, night flea market, light market and – the “Nacht des offenen Denk­mals” (“Night of the Open Monument”) – for which we had already taken on the design and production of the light cones weeks beforehand. VISUELL developed the basic idea of ​​using modern light cones as a night-time guidance system.

Under the Motto “KulturSpur. Ein Fall für den Denkmal­schutz” the 50th anniversary of the Monument Protection Law and the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments will be celebrated on September 10th and 11th with the Night and Day of the Open Monument. The historic old town, winding streets, gothic churches, medieval half-timbered buildings ... The former imperial city of Esslingen with its 1200-year history seems the perfect place for the night of the open monument.

Everything is printed, cut, the cars are packed. Early in the morning we split into four teams, including two drivers. The tour is perfectly organized in advance by Horst and Stefan. Annika and I take over the city center and drive through the narrow streets in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the weekly market. The team before us did a great job: All cones are delivered in front of the monuments and the necessary sockets and cables are organized. For us it’s just a matter of tackling the banderole and then on to the next cone. The illuminated cones with the banderoles designed by us serve as information and orientation for the visitors and they are also examined curiously by the pedestrians.

Alexander, Priska and Stefan take over the outer city ring and the town church. VISUELL is responsible for the conception and design of the 22 m long carpet and the banners next to the altar. This makes the town church shine ceremonially and at the same time provides information about the monuments.

Everything works perfectly, luckily the predicted rain didn’t come. And just in time for the opening event at 5 pm in the evangelical town church of St. Dionys, all 42 cones are in front of the monuments. For our photography and film team Yannik and Kai, things are just getting started and the last team stays until late at night to disassembly. But for me in the installation team, it’s time to say: Done! I’m really happy I was a part of the project from the design start to finish. Satisfied and happy, Annika and I enjoy a coffee at the market square, see the illuminated cones light up and observe the many interested visitors.