CLIENT  Grachtenmuseum Amsterdam   SIZE  90 m2    SITE  Amsterdam RESPONSIBILITY  Concept, design and realization 

CONSTRUCTION  Studio Nuance  PHOTOGRAPHY   Studio Indruk

ASSIGNMENT

The commission was to create a spatial interpretation of the prologue for the exhibition Amsterdam Bijna Gesloopt.

It was important that the story would be tangible and engaging from the very first moment. The introduction needed to immediately convey the essence of the exhibition and guide both Dutch and international visitors through the history of Amsterdam in an accessible and compelling way.

‘A strong introduction is half the work!'

CONCEPT

The exhibition narrative is divided into two chapters: the rescue of the city and its recovery.What would Amsterdam look like today if it had evolved into a true “motorway city”? And which scenario would be preferred today: preserving the city’s historic character or embracing a future driven primarily by economic growth?

Both scenarios are presented in the exhibition's prologue within a single image. This was achieved using an old technique: the anaglyph. An anaglyph is a stereoscopic 3D image that combines two overlapping images, in this case, red and blue. You may remember this kind of 'magic lens' from the old-fashioned 3D glasses of the past. That’s exactly how it works!

When viewed through the blue filter, the blue elements disappear from the image. The same happens to the red elements when viewed through the red filter. By moving closer to the image and alternating between the coloured lenses, visitors gradually reveal an alternative vision of Amsterdam: a city transformed by the motorway plans proposed a century ago. This playful yet thought-provoking introduction immediately immerses visitors in the exhibition’s central question, highlighting what was almost lost and why its preservation remains so valuable today.