PACKAGING giant Smurfit Kappa has helped recreate Berlin’s iconic Brandenburg Gate in Glasgow after teaming up with a Dutch artist on an innovative community project.
The firm’s Tannochside plant donated 1600 corrugated boxes, which Olivier Grossetête used to create the huge arch at Glasgow Green. The gate took five days to build and over 450 people helped assemble it. The project helped mark Glasgow and Berlin’s co-hosting of the 2018 European Athletics Championship.
Smurfit Kappa also worked with Grossetête on a separate project in the Netherlands to mark the 1,250th birthday of the town of Deventer. He managed to recreate the Lebuinuschurch, an ancient church in the town which dates back to 768 AD. Three Smurfit Kappa plants – Zedek, Van Dam and Vandra – collaborated with the artist to build two towers measuring over 20 metres in height. The firm provided 4000 corrugated boxes needed for the structure.
Saverio Mayer, Smurfit Kappa CEO of Europe said, “Smurfit Kappa has a strong tradition of supporting events in the communities in which it operates. It was a very rewarding experience to collaborate with such a talented artist to bring these breath-taking and important cultural pieces to life.”
