YOU ARE PART OF HISTORY

Haus der Geschichte

On view

Germany constantly reinvents itself in the turbulent period after World War II. At the Haus der Geschichte, you can experience this transformation up close. From the ruins of war, Germany rebuilt itself, split in two, became one again, and had to redefine itself in a new, rapidly globalizing world. Our challenge: how do we maintain enough distance to interpret this recent history, while at the same time bringing it close enough for people to experience that it is also their own story?

Location: Bonn (DE)
Client: Haus der Geschichte
Year: 2025
Service: Exhibition design (LPH 1-7), 3d, 2d, media concept, production management

Personal objects are the entry point to the many stories of the exhibition.

History consists of people...

History is not something that just happens to us. It is the sum of people’s actions. People have lived, colored, shaped, and changed history. They had to make choices: stay or go, protest or cooperate, me or us. This lived experience is our guiding principle throughout the exhibition.

During major moments, such as the negotiations on German reunification, we challenge visitors to put themselves in the shoes of the people involved. What ambassador will you be at the table?

...and you are one of them!

You, too, influence the course of history. And history influences you right back. We want to make that personal relationship with the past tangible. On each floor, large interactive installations help us to step outside the exhibition’s timeline for a moment. We introduce visitors to the people who came before us in time, and we invite them to look for similarities. Where you live, what your name is, and the causes that move you: these people were not all that different from us.

From the balustrade, you can see your own silhouette appear in the historical images of the introductory film. We make a visual statement: you are part of history!

History isn’t something that just happens to you, it’s something you actively create together. We want to instill a sense of responsibility in our visitors: you have an impact on the present, and thus on the future!

Pauline Fer, lead designer

At the end of the exhibition, your own silhouette is filled with historical photographic material: history also becomes part of you.

Throughout the exhibition, we link historical events to the present through interactive installations. Here, you can unlock your own historical time capsule with your handprint.

Spatial metaphors

A consequential history calls for a monumental approach. To make the broad outlines of the story clear for visitors, we divided the exhibition into four eras, each with its own spatial metaphor. A grand gesture connects the separate spaces of an era into one narrative, and clearly distinguishes the eras from one another. Within each era, visitors encounter a variety of stories and scenes, from the wooden chair in Gorbachev’s country house to the dachshund mascot of the Munich Olympics.

Globalisation shapes the newly unified Germany after 1990. A large hanging network connects current themes such as economy, democracy and climate.

You can’t miss the large introductory texts in front of each era. These ‘bookmarks’ help visitors orient themselves in the exhibition and give structure to the story.

The period after the fall of the Berlin Wall is euphoric, but also full of uncertainty. As a visitor, you are swept up in a whirlwind of color and movement. Round walls in a gradient of bright yellows guide you through the rapid flows, towards German reunification.

Working with the building

Daylight

The museum’s glass roofs let in plenty of daylight. That’s why we’re leaving our usual projectors at home. Instead, we’re using LED screens and playing with the shadows of objects and tall structures, such as the network in the fourth era. We’re making good use of the height with high walls and enormous objects, like the three stacked containers.
Architecture

The building’s distinctive architecture is prominently featured in the exhibition. We didn’t want to compete with or hide the architecture, but rather enhance it. The building and the exhibition tell one story. That’s why we left as much of the building’s walls untouched. The natural stone remains visible between the scenographic elements.
Routing

We have reversed the original visitor journey through the exhibition. Visitors now first walk up a long ramp and then descend as they explore the exhibition. From the upper floors, this creates all kinds of exciting sightlines further into the exhibition. Visitors have a better overview, and the downward ramps become moments of reflection and anticipation.