The story starts in 1597. In the first room, the 3D model backed by double projection showcases the circumstances which led to the expansion of Amsterdam. Next in line is the story about the vision and decision-making behind the plan. Through an animation on a table you can watch the mayor converse with the chief government architect, the chief engineer and city treasury keeper as they chalk out an expansion plan for the city.
On view
An Ingenious Plan
Museum of the Canals, Amsterdam (NL)
This exhibition shows why the canals of Amsterdam are so unique and why they are still so alive after 400 years. The experience is situated in an authentic canal house on one of the most beautiful spots of the Amsterdam Canal district. A sequence of five rooms on the first floor takes the visitor on a journey through time.


As you move on, relive how the canal houses are built. As you walk through this room, feel the sand on your feet, watch the workers in action live and wade through the historic canals. The next room allows the visitor a glimpse of life in a canal house. A miniature canal house shows how people used to live in these houses throughout the centuries. By using Pepper’s ghost technique, the rooms seem to be inhabited by real people.

In the last room, an enormous model of the ring of canals takes centre stage. The end film projected on a circular wall is connected to projection mapping on the model. Different elements light up or move on the model when they are mentioned in the film. Here the visitor truly travels through time, from when the area had just been built to the most recent Gay Pride.


Our 2012 award-winning exhibition at the Museum of Canals was renewed in 2020. The hardware was in need of an update and the museum felt their story needed fine-tuning in light of our ever-changing interpretation of history. Together, we re-centred the storyline, created a brand-new audio guide and produced an end film in the final room. An immersive projection now connects this film to the existing city model. We also upgraded the exhibition with the latest technology.
Gouden Reiger 2012
Spatial Media, winner
SBID International Design Awards 2012
Shortlisted