people's pavilion

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The art of changing direction

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At Dutch Design Week 2021, architect and former chief government architect Floris Alkemade presented an exhibition in the form of a labyrinth.

 

The exhibition is a translation of his essay 'The Future of the Netherlands. The Art of Changing Direction'. In this essay, he describes the major challenges we face as a country and how we can provide answers to complex issues such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, but also housing shortage, inequality, an ageing population and loneliness. 

 

The labyrinth represents 'the art of changing direction'. It is about exploring new ways of observing, thinking and acting. The labyrinth consists of three parts. The first part is about social changes and the search for solidarity. The second part is about our desire for control in uncertain times - for better or for worse. And the third part is about our ability to dream and imagine brighter futures, and a call for joint action based on solidarity.

 

The floor plan of the Labyrinth was derived from the labyrinth that was once laid out in the garden of Versailles on behalf of Louis XIV. We applied the layout of the paths to the floor, but instead of a maze of hedges, we let the visitors wander through a series of hanging drapes.

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