Kiesgrube

Year: 2025
Status: Completed
Type of work: Event & structure
Services: Phase 2 Concept
Phase 3 Design
Phase 4 Development
Phase 6 Production support

For Kiesgrube Open Air 2025, I had the opportunity to help shape the iconic event’s return to its legendary location Am Blankenwasser. The goal was to reconcile the raw, DIY energy of Kiesgrube’s early days with the brand’s matured and evolved identity.

The design concept focused on strong contrasts: hard, industrial materials like plastic, metal, and foil were paired with soft, organic elements such as burlap, sand, and wood. Visually, everything was unified through one uncompromising signal color – red.

The focus wasn’t just on the stage, but on creating a holistic atmosphere: an immersive landscape experience that transformed an industrial site in the Rhineland into a place with Ibiza-like vibes – rich in detail, emotionally engaging, and entirely brand-driven.

A complex project that brought together space, materials, identity, and emotion into one cohesive narrative – and one I approached with full creative passion.

Client: WAH GmbH, Düsseldorf
Location: Am Blankenwasser, Neuss
Production Management: Robin Schäfer, Joe Prange
Procurement: Simon Rodenkirchen
Art Direction: Tom Preuss
Graphics & Illustrations: Ken Hanamura

Kiesgrube Open Air, event and structure: festival entrance with the lettering “Kiesgrube” on a fence under a blue sky — Entrance walkway (Photo:vg)

Kiesgrube Open Air, event and structure: red mushroom-shaped umbrella structure against a blue sky — Signature-palm (Photo:vg)

Kiesgrube Open Air, event and structure: banner with eyes and the lettering “Kiesgrube” on the fence — Spatial branding on construction fence (Photo:vg)

Kiesgrube Open Air, event and structure: entrance with red parasols and lettering, trees in the background — Chill zone (Photo:vg)

Kiesgrube Open Air, event and structure: red parasol structure above a bar with visitors — Bar three (Photo:vg)

Kiesgrube Open Air, event and structure: red fabric panels and framework seen from below against a pale sky — Roof construction and decoration of mainfloor (Photo:vg)

Kiesgrube Open Air, event and structure: red palm motifs on fabric in three strips — Palm patterns all around the location (Photo:vg)

Kiesgrube Open Air, event and structure: red fabric roof with printed eyes above a dancing crowd — Mainfloor (Photo:vg)

Kiesgrube Open Air, event and structure: woman in a passage of red and orange fabric strips — Entrance tunnel (Photo:vg)

Kiesgrube Open Air, event and structure: red palm leaves and loudspeakers on a pole between green trees — Details main floor (Photo:vg)

Kiesgrube Open Air, event and structure: isometric drawing of a bar hut in three construction steps — Construction diagramm entrance tunnel

Kiesgrube Open Air, event and structure: isometric drawing of the fence with the “Kiesgrube” lettering — Construction diagramm entrance walkway

Kiesgrube Open Air, event and structure: isometric drawing of a roofed structure in three construction steps — Construction diagramm mainfloor roof decoration