Mary Chapel Rotterdam 

On the edge of De Nieuwe Plantage park, at Oudedijk 222A (3061 AH Rotterdam) stands a monumental building dating from 1898. Originally, it was part of the industrial infrastructure serving the nearby gasworks. In 2025, this monument was given a new purpose as a Mary Chapel for the local community. 

I was commissioned to design and create the chapel's windows over a six-month period. For this project, I drew inspiration from the classical religious colour palette, in which each colour carries its own symbolic meaning. At the same time, I wanted to translate this tradition into a contemporary visual language.

The windows are executed in a modern style and made entirely of fused glass, without using traditional stained-glass techniques. Each pane was cut by hand, resulting in 6 mm thick glass panels. Working without lead lines required me to rethink structure, composition, and rhythm. The interplay of line and surface became central to the design, giving the chapel a contemporary character that resonates with both the surrounding neighbourhood and the landscape of De Nieuwe Plantage park.

This project marked an important step in my self-development as an artist. It challenged me to balance heritage, symbolism and abstraction, craftsmanship and experimentation. Over the course of six months, I deepened my technical knowledge of glass, refined my visual language, and strengthened my ability to translate a conceptual narrative into a site-specific work. The process demanded patience, precision, and reflection that continue to shape my practice.