Evoluon

A UFO in the middle of Eindhoven

The Evoluon stands on the Noord Brabantlaan and looks as though it landed there from another era. That is not far off: Philips had the building constructed in 1966 as a forward-looking exhibition centre, designed by Louis Christiaan Kalff and Leo de Bever. The disc shape on concrete legs feels just as otherworldly today as it did then. For architectural photography, it is one of the most recognisable buildings in the Netherlands.

What makes the building photogenic

The form calls for a viewpoint at some distance. Get too close and you lose the overview; step back far enough and the disc finally reads as a disc. A focal length between 35mm and 85mm works well, depending on how much context you want to include. The surrounding grounds give you room to move. The wide pond at the front offers reflections when the water is calm, particularly in the early morning. Arrive early for that. Later in the day cars tend to park in front of the building, which can ruin your composition.

The concrete has a roughness that comes out well in side light. Shortly after sunrise or in the late afternoon the shadows deepen and the texture gains character. Overcast light flattens that, but softens the colours of the glass in the office section on the side. Both conditions have their value.

Season and light

You can photograph the Evoluon throughout the year. In winter the sun sits low and catches the round disc from the side early in the day. That produces a more dramatic result than in summer, when the light stays high for a long time. Autumn sometimes brings morning mist, which changes the atmosphere around the building considerably. Snow is rare in Eindhoven, but it makes the combination of white ground and grey concrete striking.

Practical

Parking is available on the grounds, but check the current situation as the Evoluon is used as a conference and meeting venue. On busy event days the surroundings can be cluttered. Photographing from outside is always free. For shots inside the building you will need to contact the venue manager. The building has the status of a national monument and is also recognised as industrial heritage. For current information about the building and events, visit evoluon.com.

Sources and further reading

• Evoluon officiële website
• Rijksmonumenten.nl — Evoluon
• Wikipedia — Evoluon