In 2002, Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas came up with a proposal that the existing flag of the European Union should radically change its appearance. His design, realised at the OMA studio at the invitation of the then President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, departed from the previous symbolism and colours. Koolhaas designed a pattern made up of vertical stripes in the colours of the flags of all the Member States. He was inspired by the barcode, a graphic symbol of modernity and global exchange.
Mosaic of national colours under fire from critics
At the time of its inception, Koolhaas’ design included 45 colours, corresponding to the then 15 members of the Community. In 2006, after the enlargement of the Union, more colours were added, creating a new version of the flag made up of 25 countries. The idea was clear: to show the diversity of national identities as a coherent, dynamic whole. In the architect’s eyes, Europe was to be a mosaic, not a monolith. His proposal was to express community not through uniformity, but through the coexistence of multiplicity. Although the 2002 project never entered official use, it sparked a lively debate. Critics accused it of reducing the idea of European unity to a mere catalogue of countries and their flags. Some saw the ‘barcode’ as a graphic metaphor for the Union as an economic community devoid of a deeper, spiritual dimension. Others, on the other hand, saw in it a modern, non-hierarchical language appropriate to the realities of the 21st century.
European Union flag – symbolism and meaning
The contrast between Koolhaas’ design and the current flag is significant. The current symbol of Europe, depicting 12 golden stars arranged in a circle on a blue background, was adopted in 1955. Its author was Arsène Heitz, a postal worker who created dozens of versions of the design. Paul M.G. Lévy, then Head of Information of the Council of Europe, was responsible for refining the proportions and colours. The flag’s symbolism is based on the number 12, considered an expression of perfection and wholeness, present in the number of months in the year, the hours on the clock or the signs of the zodiac, among others. The stars do not reflect the number of member states, as is the case with the number of states on the US flag. The circle in which they are arranged symbolises unity and solidarity. The real inspiration for the design, as its author admitted before his death, was the Apocalypse of St John and the figure of the Woman with a wreath of 12 stars. However, the religious connotations of the design are still disputed today.
The European Union flag as a sign of identity
The flag was initially adopted by the Council of Europe, and in 1983 it was recognised as the official symbol of the European Communities. In 1986, it was flown for the first time in front of the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels. Despite the fact that the Lisbon Treaty did not give the Union’s symbols legal status, the flag has become a permanent part of the Union’s visual identity and is associated with it worldwide. Rem Koolhaas’ rejected but somewhat interesting design made no reference to Christian tradition or symbolism. Nor was it an attempt to encapsulate European values in a single form. Rather, it resembled an ever-changing code in which each country contributes its own colour. Despite its lack of acceptance, it still remains an interesting footnote to the history of European symbols and an attempt to define the modern identity of the Old Continent.
Source: european-union.eu, coe.int
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