The Blue Heart, Public sculpture near Nieuwe Kerk, Delft, Netherlands
The Blue Heart is a glass and stainless steel sculpture roughly 2.5 meters tall, located on the circular road of Oude Langendijk in central Delft. The work features blue panels arranged in a heart shape that frames the bus turning loop in the area.
Marcel Smink created this sculpture in 1998 as part of a municipal initiative to enhance the bus turning loop in central Delft. The installation marked a moment when functional design and public art came together in the city center.
The blue glass panels directly reference the traditional Delft Blue pottery, while the technical construction represents the Delft University of Technology.
The sculpture sits right next to the Nieuwe Kerk and is easily reached on foot from Delft's main square. It stands outdoors and remains visible year-round, making it accessible to visitors at any time of day.
The heart was deliberately made from glass so that people can see through it rather than encountering a solid form. This transparency shows how art objects can shape public space by inviting viewers to look through and beyond them.
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