Do you know what I love about the Bakery Museum De Oude Bakkerij in Medemblik? This museum stays true to itself, while daring to take that exciting extra step that many smaller museums are afraid to take. They dare to try something new. For the past two years, I have been working on a complete redesign of the museum’s permanent collection. Phase one of the renovation has been completed, while phase two is currently in full swing. Step by step, this family museum is undergoing a complete transformation, with its story being told chronologically. Starting in the 17th century, will you travel back in time with us?

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In the museum’s prologue, you are introduced to the bakers’ guild of the 17th century. There was a clear distinction between bread and biscuits, and later pastries, also known as sugar. It was therefore a logical choice to divide the exhibition’s storyline into bread, biscuits and pastries. The three storylines follow one another, taking you through the history of the baking profession. The curators of the Bakery Museum are the content experts, providing the knowledge shared throughout the museum. I made sure that all the information the museum has to offer was brought together into a logical and engaging story for visitors.

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Because of the different types of visitors, the information is presented on several levels. For children, this museum is a place to discover, learn and experience, there is plenty to do! But parents and grandparents can also learn something new at a deeper level. Workshops are offered, for example, and recipes are available for making pulled sugar, painting with cocoa and baking bread. We also considered the expert or hobbyist visiting the museum. By scanning a QR code, for example, they can access additional background information about the objects on display. Alongside these choices, extra attention was paid to making the museum more accessible. The spaces are wheelchair-friendly, tactile objects have been incorporated, and guidance lines have been added to the floors.

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Accessibility is becoming increasingly important in the cultural sector. After all, culture belongs to and is for everyone. A redesign is the perfect opportunity to pay more attention to the accessibility of a space. And accessibility requires creativity too. It is not simply about having a wider corridor or an accessible toilet. The museum experience should feel as natural as possible, and any additions should blend into the overall design. A museum text in Braille or an audio version is not enough. Everyone should be able to touch and experience things. That is why tactile objects, for example, are such a valuable addition. And they are not only fun for people who are blind or visually impaired, they are actually fun for everyone. What does a speculaas mould feel like? And is sugar really as sticky as we imagine? I would like to know that myself. From a young age, I have always wanted to touch everything, so how frustrating is it that you are never allowed to touch anything in museums! At the Bakery Museum, the message is: PLEASE TOUCH! Engaging all the senses stimulates curiosity and creates a complete experience.

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For me, a spatial design is only complete when everything comes together. For this museum, it was therefore essential to develop a new visual identity as well. The design uses a range of bold colours. Each theme has its own colour, making the different subjects clearly recognisable to visitors. My role also included creating a complete graphic layer and guiding the realisation of the design. A concept in both 2D and 3D, and bringing it to life, that is what STUDIO &lotte loves to do!

 

The Bakery Museum will reopen on Saturday 19 February. So if you happen to be nearby, pay a visit to the tastiest museum in the Netherlands! And I can already reveal that the slogan really does live up to its promise. When you buy a ticket, you don't simply receive a paper ticket or an online ticket, you get a biscuit! It is the perfect example of how the concept has been carried through into every element of the visitor experience.

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Lotte de Jong