Renovations in the staged museum experience
How spatial circulation has changed in Dutch museums after renovations
J.P. de Wolf (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
I. Nevzgodin – Mentor (TU Delft - Heritage & Architecture)
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Abstract
This thesis explores how visitor circulation in Dutch museums has been reshaped through architectural strategies during renovations over the past twenty years. Prompted by policy changes in the 1990s, many museums were required to become more self-sustaining, leading to significant transformations in both function and spatial design. While visitor experience has become increasingly central, there is limited research on how spatial circulation is addressed in renovation projects.
The main research question asks: In which manner have renovations, in the last twenty years, of museums in the Netherlands influenced the design of visitor circulation through architectural strategies?
Using plan analysis, archival sources, and theoretical literature, four case studies are examined: the Stedelijk Museum, Van Abbemuseum, Kunstmuseum, and Museum De Lakenhal. The findings reveal two main strategies: either preserving and integrating existing circulation patterns or introducing new strategies to enhance visitor autonomy. Across all cases, circulation is redesigned to promote autonomy and to stage a more dynamic, layered museum experience.