Rijksmuseum Boerhaave - Redesign

Looking differently

Rijksmuseum Boerhaave, Leiden (NL), 2017

Scientists expand human knowledge by looking at the world in new ways. What if we could get visitors to look differently at the museum’s collection?

Connecting visitors with stories

The Dutch national museum of science and medicine boasts a world-famous collection of objects, including Van Leeuwenhoek’s microscope, Einstein’s pen and Vesalius’s anatomical drawings. To connect visitors with the stories and people behind these treasures, we developed the overarching concept “Looking differently” using the Emotion Design method. Just as scientists make discoveries by looking at the world around them in fresh ways, we encourage visitors to look at the museum’s collection and the history of science in a new way.

“What an amazing tribute to human ingenuity.”

Visitor, guest book — 2018

Spatial metaphors

Taking five exhibition themes as our starting point, we developed five spatial metaphors to show the collection to its best advantage. The old attic has been transformed into a Golden Age study. A large, bright space with white curtains and bed-shaped display cases resembles an infirmary. Small rooms function as cabinets of curiosities showcasing eighteenthh-century collections. And the high-ceilinged final gallery has become a cathedral for the big questions today’s scientists are trying to answer.

Human work

Interactive installations and AV elements offer visitors personal perspectives on the collection and also challenge them to look differently at science. They can make ethical decisions just as a doctor would, play the part of a seventeenth century pharmacist, and protect the Netherlands from the water in the “polder game”. Visitors discover that science is human work. The result is an emotional connection to scientific objects that may seem remote at first. In the words of the Dutch daily newspaper NRC, “The new Boerhaave shows the people behind the instruments.” Rijksmuseum Boerhaave was named European Museum of the Year in 2019.

“The exceptional quality of this museum results from its artful approach to communicating science.”

Jury report, European Museum of the Year Award 2019 — 25 May 2019

Photos: Mike Bink and Fred Ernst

Credits

Client
Rijksmuseum Boerhaave

Content Design
Studio Louter

Spatial & Graphic Design
OPERA Amsterdam

Interactive Media Production
Studio Louter

Film Production
Shosho
Gado Gado Filmproducties
Ben van der Meyden

Audio Production
KlevR sounddesign
Katinka Baehr

Construction
Bruns

Hardware
Mansveld

Creative Direction
Pieter van der Heijden

Awards 

Muse Design Awards 2023
Silver | Interior Design - Exhibits, Pavilions & Exhibitions

European Museum of the Year Award 2019
European Museum of the Year 2019

AVICOM F@IMP 2.0 2018
Gold | Innovative Application

International Design Award 2018
Silver | Multimedia/Animation

International Design Award 2018
Bronze | Pavilions and Exhibitions