‘Opening up the rather closed 18th century building and bringing the interior to the 21st century’
National Museum of Ceramics Princessehof in Leeuwarden celebrated its 100th birthday: time for a major renovation. We made the museum more accessible. Both literally and figuratively: by opening up the rather closed 18th century building and bringing the interior to the 21st century. On a tight budget we created a surprising contemporary setting that not only brings out the best of the collection but also gives the museum a new social function.
We opened up the entrance area and connected it to the shop and the tea room that are also part of our design. This whole area now feels light and welcoming and is accessible from two sides: from the existing front entrance and from the new back entrance we created. This way we gave the museum a new social function in the city: an inspiring meeting place for the general public.
To make a visit to the museum a lasting experience, we worked with strong contrasts. Vibrant colours invite visitors to the tea room; tranquil greys make the merchandise pop out in the museum shop; clear contemporary lines in some exhibition spaces make the collection pop out and almost float; historic patterns and colours in others exhibition spaces emphasise the feel of the era. Together they form an inspiring contemporary whole.
‘Vibrant colours invite visitors to the tea room; tranquil greys make the merchandise pop out in the museum shop’
- Design i29 interior architects
- Client Museum Princessehof
- Concept & strategy Ambassadors of Aesthetics
- Floor area 1200 m2
- Completion February 2018
- Location Leeuwarden, NL
- Photography Ewout Huibers
- Construction Zwartwoud
