Circles of Universal Language: a conversation with Béla Bezold

We speak with Béla Bezold about his ‘Neira’ project, an urban lamp that casts shimmering reflections and ripples across the surrounding area. It invites stillness and encourages residents to reconnect with each other and their environment as they pause to appreciate this calming display amidst the city’s fast pace.

“I see ‘Neira’ not as a direct means to encounter, but rather to create a shared environment that allows people to let down their guard so that encounters can happen naturally.”

Béla Bezold

Béla Bezold is a multisensory designer and dreamer dedicated to exploring new ways to experience our surroundings, or ‘Umwelten’. 

Can you elaborate on your ‘Neira’ installation and how it aims to create meaningful encounters in Eindhoven? 

‘Neira’ is an urban sculpture designed to provoke reflection on how future cities could evolve if their designers reconnected with humanity’s primal relationship with nature. In this piece, I chose to focus on water—one of the most essential molecules for life on Earth. Without water, nothing around us would exist. But I always try to highlight the little beautiful details of life. In this case, ‘Neira’ became a street lamp that casts the water surface onto the ground beneath, creating a mesmerising display of lakes for everyone to discover. I see ‘Neira’ not as a direct means to encounter, but rather to create a shared environment that allows people to let down their guard so that encounters can happen naturally.

Could you share more about your creative process and the design and material choices that guided your work?

My creative process almost always starts by looking at nature. For ‘Neira’ it was no different. Sitting on my couch, I observed the many plants in my room until my eyes caught the shape of the common pancake plant. I had not put much thought into this plant before, but while looking at the leaves, it just felt right. I knew that I wanted the bowls of water to be held high above the ground. This allowed the projection on the ground to be as big as possible, giving the resemblance of lakes, and showing the water in a royal and valuable sense. 

In the scale model, I integrated pumps to circulate the water and create ripples, but for the full-scale version, I imagine the wind in Eindhoven could take over that role naturally. I chose materials like copper and glass for their timeless quality and organic feel. Copper has a warm quality as well as a link to water, while glass reflects the light and water elegantly.

“I hope this connection to nature, combined with thoughtful design choices, invites people to reflect on their surroundings in new ways.”

Béla Bezold

The wooden base doubles as a drawer, providing a practical element. ‘Neira’ may stand out amongst a concrete square, however, like plants or mushrooms, it absorbs its environment and translates it into something we can visually experience. I hope this connection to nature, combined with thoughtful design choices, invites people to reflect on their surroundings in new ways.

How do you believe these design choices create connections among residents in Eindhoven?

As a resident myself, I see Eindhoven as a very diverse city. The large student population, the increasing elderly population, and the many ethnicities. It can be hard to find something that connects them all. On top of that, Eindhoven has a strong identity tied to technology and innovation, which can sometimes feel disconnected from the natural world. By combining water and light—symbols of nature and technology—‘Neira’ has the potential to bridge the gaps between these diverse groups. This combination of elements reflects both the modern and the natural, and I hope it can become a symbol of collaboration. It shows that the old and the new, tradition and innovation, can not only coexist but thrive together as one.

What do you hope audiences will take away from your project? Additionally, how do you envision your design influencing the way residents of Eindhoven experience their city, both now and in the future?

To me, ‘Neira’s’ message is that it’s never too late to reconnect with something we’ve lost or forgotten—whether that’s our primal bond with nature, our ability to notice and appreciate the small, beautiful moments around us, or even a relationship that has faded over time. It provides an opportunity for that reconnection by creating a moment of wonder, a spark that offers a new perspective.

I hope audiences take away a renewed sense of awareness, realising that the world is full of small wonders waiting to be noticed. If we allow ourselves to slow down and experience these little moments, they might lead to something much more profound.

“I hope it becomes a piece that reshapes how Eindhoven residents see their city. By blending technology and nature, it offers a glimpse of a future where these elements can coexist harmoniously.”

Béla Bezold

Was there a particular insight from the process that stood out to you or changed your perspective? 

What stands out to me is a piece of feedback I received during one of our early meetings, when ‘Neira’ was still just a small part of a larger park concept. Someone said, “maybe the lamp is enough.” At the time, I didn’t realise how much that comment would shape my thinking, but it did. We live in cities full of loud, flashy distractions, and that feedback made me rethink the power of simplicity.

It shifted my focus from trying to do too much to embracing the small, quiet moments. That’s how ‘Neira’ evolved into what it is now—a piece that doesn’t shout for attention, but instead invites you to slow down and notice the subtle beauty around you. Sometimes, focusing on the small things allows for a deeper, more meaningful experience.

Location

Strijp-S area
Ketelhuisplein
Map No. B4

Open

Sat 19 Oct 11:00 – 18:00

Sun 20 Oct 11:00 – 18:00

Mon 21 Oct 11:00 – 18:00

Tue 22 Oct 11:00 – 18:00

Wed 23 Oct 11:00 – 18:00

Thu 24 Oct 11:00 – 18:00

Fri 25 Oct 11:00 – 18:00

Sat 26 Oct 11:00 – 18:00

Sun 27 Oct 11:00 – 18:00

Access Free