311 cubic metres (407 cu yd; 10,983 cu ft) (when done)
Slope
43°
The Zeitpyramide (lit.'time pyramid') is a work of public art by Manfred Laber under construction in Wemding, Germany. The pyramid was begun in 1993, coinciding with the town's 1,200th anniversary. The structure is intended to consist of 120 blocks when complete, with a new block added every ten years over the span of 1,190 years.[1] At 15:06 (UTC) on 9 September 2023, the fourth block was installed, making the project 3.3% complete.[2] It will take another 1,160 years to complete and is scheduled to be finished in the year 3183.
Concept
The town of Wemding dates back to the year 793 and celebrated its 1,200 year anniversary in 1993. The Zeitpyramide was conceived by Manfred Laber (a local artist) in June 1993 to mark this 1,200-year period and to give people a sense of what the span of 1,200 years really means.[1]
One block is scheduled to be placed every ten years, taking 1,190 years. This time includes the initial block placed at the beginning of the project which explains the apparent off-by-one error of ten years. So far, the blocks have all been concrete, but the material of future blocks may be altered in future generations depending on availability of materials.[3]
Artist
Manfred Laber was born in Wemding on 5 May 1932 and studied painting at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste in Berlin in the 1950s. He has other artwork on permanent display on the Isla San Antonio, and in Alcanar, Spain, and Mormoiron, France; Alcanar was also his part-time place of residence.[4] Laber died in Wemding on 17 August 2018, aged 86.
The time pyramid is located on a concrete pad on a rounded hilltop, the Robertshöhe, on the northern edge of Wemding.[5] The first block was placed in October 1993.[1] The 6.5-tonne (6.4-long-ton; 7.2-short-ton) fourth and most recent block was placed at 15:06 on 9 September 2023.[6] Following the construction schedule, the fifth block will be placed in 2033.[7][8]
The project's initial financing was mostly achieved through donations by local companies, which, for example, supplied the materials for the concrete slab for free. The project is administered by a foundation based in Wemding.[9]
Speculative future progress
Profile (side view) of the completed design
A model of the final artwork is exhibited at Wemding, at the Haus des Gastes.[1] If the time pyramid project proceeds according to plan, it will fall into four stages based on tier layer.
Base tier
The base layer, measuring 13.8 by 13.8 m (45 by 45 ft), will consist of 64 blocks arranged in 8 rows and 8 columns and has a stage completion date of 2623.
Second tier
The second layer will consist of 36 blocks, in a 6 by 6 format with a stage completion date of 2983. This is the first layer that requires a block to be placed atop another block, which would require a crane or some form of scaffolding such as an earthen ramp used as an incline.
Third tier
The third layer will consist of 16 blocks arranged in a 4 by 4 format with a stage completion date of 3143.
Fourth tier
The final, fourth layer will consist of 4 blocks, arranged in a 2 by 2 format, which upon completion will complete the structure. The completed pyramid will have taken just shy of a decade less to build than Wemding's age at the time that the first block was laid.
Completion
The pyramid, when completed in the year 3183, is scheduled to consist of 120 stone or concrete blocks, each measuring 1.2 m (3.9 ft) long, 1.2 m (3.9 ft) wide and 1.8 m (5.9 ft) tall. Adjacent blocks are separated by gaps of half a block or 0.6 m (2.0 ft).
Construction schedule
Construction schedule of the Zeitpyramide
Block number
Date placed
Percentage of blocks placed
Tier
Notes
Image
1
23 October 1993
0.8%
First tier
The first block placed, and the only block to be placed during the 20th century.
2
15:58, 6 September 2003
1.6%
First tier
The first block to be placed during the 21st century.
3
16:14, 29 June 2013
2.5%
First tier
The last block to be placed before the death of Manfred Laber.
4
15:06, 9 September 2023
3.3%
First tier
The latest block to have been placed, and also the first block where its placement was live-streamed. Also the first block placed after the death of Manfred Laber in 2018.
5
2033
4.1%
First tier
The next block scheduled to be placed.
6
2043
5%
First tier
7
2053
5.8%
First tier
8
2063
6.7%
First tier
9
2073
7.5%
First tier
10
2083
8.3%
First tier
11
2093
9.1%
First tier
The last block scheduled to be placed during the 21st century. Block 11 also marks 100 years since Block 1 was placed.
⋮
64
2623
53.3%
First tier
The last block scheduled to be placed within the first tier.
65
2633
54.2%
Second tier
The first block scheduled to be placed within the second tier, and the first block which is assumed to require scaffolding.
⋮
100
2983
83.3%
Second tier
The last block scheduled to be placed within the second tier.
⋮
116
3143
96.6%
Third tier
The last block scheduled to be placed within the third tier.
The last block scheduled to be placed during the 32nd century, the last block to be placed within the fourth tier, and also the last block overall scheduled to be placed. Block 120 also marks 1,190 years since Block 1 was placed.
References
^ abcdConception Official Zeitpyramide website, accessed: 14 December 2010
