[Translate to English:] Foto | Han Konings
  • The University , Campus

Custodians of TU/e's technological heritage

In the M-wing of the Paviljoen there are rooms filled with technical artifacts once discarded by scientists. When better versions came along, the old ones disappeared into basements and cupboards and over time they were forgotten. But not by Erik Geelen and Joep Huiskamp, who as true ‘Eindhoven pickers’ scoured buildings in search of items that had narrowly avoided the dumpster and being erased from the university's awareness of its own history.

by
photo Han Konings

In recent years as buildings due for demolition or renovation were being emptied, Erik Geelen, archivist at the Information Expertise Center, and Joep Huiskamp, policy officer for the Executive Board, had some help as they set about compiling an inventory of interesting technological devices they wished to keep for the university.

Photo | Han Konings
Photo | Han Konings

For example, former dean Wim van Bokhoven helped them when the Potentiaal building was being emptied for Electrical Engineering's relocation to Flux. The building would be reinvented as the Luna residential tower. Previously, at Huiskamp's request, N-floor, which used to house Applied Physics and which had to be demolished to make way for Flux, had been combed for items worth keeping.

Temporarily, Geelen and Huiskamp have been housing the bounty they have managed to collect over the years in Paviljoen's M-wing. With this building complex now scheduled for circular demolition, the two gentlemen must seek new premises for their collection. Having now acquired some 150 square meters of items, they understand the need to whittle this down, given the limited storage space available at TU/e.

Accompanied by both these technology archeologists and a video reporter, Cursor recently made an excursion to this bountiful tomb in the Paviljoen and filmed all kinds of stuff stored there. In addition, Huiskamp explains the ideas they have for the future of their collection. Finally, he shows how the replica of the electrostatic generator with Leiden jars, which used to stand in Potentiaal and the original of which can be found in Teylers Museum in Haarlem, has found a nice home in Flux.

Share this article