She recently made waves in Amsterdam with a monumental fountain that showcases the power of water and natural stone. The designer and artist is known for her use of sustainable materials, light and delicate pastel colours. A portrait on Sabine Marcelis.
Von Kathrin Spohr
In the centre of Amsterdam’s Vondelpark, a sky-blue fountain installation is currently causing quite a stir: It consists of three huge, rectangular stone blocks stacked on top of each other, each with a different orientation. They form a monumental sculpture that surprises with a different overall picture from every angle. Water flows downwards from several points within the structure with fascinating movements and sounds.
The Shape of Water
‘Vondel Fountain, Stacked’ is one of the latest projects by designer and artist Sabine Marcelis. It was created in collaboration with SolidNature, a leading global supplier of natural stone, and was unveiled during Amsterdam Fashion Week at the beginning of September. The stones used are recycled. They come from an exhibition for Milan Design Week 2023 and are intended as a work of art to emphasise the timeless and enduring quality of natural stone. ‘Water is a recurring element in my work, serving as both a medium and a source of inspiration,’ says Sabine Marcelis. ‘I have designed fountains for renowned institutions and brands, such as the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona and the luxury fashion house Fendi. These experiences have deepened my understanding of how water can change spaces – through its movement, its sound and the atmosphere it creates.’
Atmosphere, the keyword. Marcelis always succeeds in creating extraordinary atmospheres with her projects in a special way – through the skilful interplay of colour, light and material. This certainly has something to do with her roots: Sabine Marcelis grew up in New Zealand. The breathtaking nature of the island nation, the appearance of clouds and sunlight, play a central role in her designs. Her impressions are often reflected in transparent materials, light reflections and diverse colour nuances, with extraordinary skill for atmospheric design.
Inspired by Nature
‘I’ve spent a lot of time in nature, especially in the mountains above the clouds,’ she explains. ’I love working with nature: sun, water, wind.’ This is evident in her outdoor works, such as the ‘Vondel Fountain, Stacked’. And also in her interior projects. Sabine Marcelis began studying industrial design in Wellington. An exhibition by the Dutch collective DROOG there inspired her to move to the Netherlands. She was determined to explore the philosophy of this unusual creative forge and transferred to the renowned Design Academy Eindhoven, where she graduated in 2011. A decision that had a lasting impact on her artistic development. In the Netherlands, Marcelis has become one of the most sought-after designers of our time.
New Perspectives on Living
Marcelis’ diverse portfolio ranges from interiors, furniture and lighting – including for Ikea – to installations and design collaborations with car brands such as Renault and Audi. For the European Football Championship in 2024, she designed a series of coloured pedestals on which the balls were served before the matches. In the new VitraHaus Loft in Weil am Rhein, Marcelis recently created an exemplary, bold ambience that opens up new perspectives on living: Her loft is a large open space that is divided into different functional zones not by walls, but solely by colour. Marcelis has created an intelligently organised, characterful environment that demonstrates the powerful effect that the interplay of colour and design can have in contemporary interiors. An unusual palette of specially selected bold colours such as chewing gum, butter, honeydew and caramel sets the tone.
Re-Interpreted Through Colour and Light
It is this intense exploration of colour, material, light, transparency and reflection that gives her work its unmistakable signature. And brings her objects and spaces to life in a subtle way. Sabine Marcelis: ‘The possibilities of incorporating light into a project are vast: whether it is artificial or natural light, both play a very different and unique role in a space to create interesting effects.
This is clearly evident in Rotterdam’s HNI (Het Nieuwe Instituut), the centre for architecture, design and digital culture, where she has just transformed an originally dark research space into a bright and inviting meeting and lounge area.
Instead of getting rid of the discarded black USM furniture, Marcelis reused the modules that had been in use there since 1993 and fitted them with coloured glass panels. The result is a reinterpretation of the furniture in warm red-orange tones, creating an exciting interplay of colour and transparency throughout the space.
Marcelis’ colour schemes and combinations may be intense, striking and sometimes unusual, but they never feel artificial or overdone. This is because colour and light become an integral part of her design, which is defined by clarity and reduction to the essential. Marcelis rejects decorative elements. She prefers authenticity, passion and reason.
Bring Objects to Life
Research into new, sustainable materials is currently high on Studio Marcelis’s agenda. ‘As an artist, I am very interested in the potential of materials: How they can be processed to create meaningful forms and experiences, for example,’ says the designer. We are constantly working on developing smarter materials. Especially when it comes to glass projects.
These include solar cells, which Marcelis integrates into layers of glass. She first used her developments in a pilot project for Audi in 2023: a completely off-grid sundial that charges itself during the day and lights up at night. It was installed in front of the pyramids in Egypt. Sabine Marcelis: ‘I can’t wait to apply this idea to other outdoor installations. An invisible technology that makes aesthetic objects active by harnessing the power of solar energy itself.
Pushing Boundaries Time and Time Again
It is exciting to see the breadth of Sabine Marcelis’ work. This begs the question: is there a specific criterion by which all her commissions are selected? I work on projects that are an interesting challenge for me. I like to keep pushing the boundaries. It also keeps my studio on its toes and surprises people. I would hate to fall into a pattern. So it’s no wonder that the Rotterdam-based designer is also committed to the next generation of designers: As a juror in renowned competitions such as the one&twenty award of the German Design Council. Or in Milan, where this year she organised the Alulua design space, which showcased the work of young talents. She was a mentor for the La Prairie Bauhaus collective and taught at the prestigious Swiss university ECAL in Lausanne.
Marcelis says that her experience as a juror and mentor has repeatedly made her aware of the importance of promoting new perspectives and giving young designers space: “I am very pleased to see that young designers are thinking creatively about the use of materials and the responsible use of resources. This is by far the most important part of the design of the future. And we all – designers and design brands – need to make this a priority. This brings us full circle to Marcelis’ circular “Vondel Fountain, Stacked”.
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