Minor 'Spaces of Display'

(Milou Bakker)

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Final presentation

On Thursday, December 18, we had our final stand-alone presentation, where each student presented their completed project individually. It was a valuable moment to reflect on the full process and see how the concepts had developed into spatial outcomes. I received positive feedback on the aesthetic quality of my presentation and the way material, form, and atmosphere were balanced within the exhibition design. The feedback highlighted my strong sense of composition and attention to detail, which successfully translated the conceptual idea of form and counterform into a coherent and refined spatial experience.

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Final design: Posters

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Final design: Photo's

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Final design: Making process of the wall

For the sculptural wall of the 1:6 model, I chose to work with foam as the main material, since its texture and density come closest to imitating the qualities of mycelium. I first cut the foam to the overall dimensions of the wall and then carefully marked, cut, and shaped each section where the volumes of the Contrò and Nodo pieces would fit. Using a Dremel, I refined the contours and created the hollow spaces that represent the counterforms.

Once all pieces were completed, I glued them together to form one continuous wall, then sanded the surface smooth and finished it with spray paint.

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Final design: Making proces of the box

This week I started building the 1:6 scale model of The Room. I began by drawing and cutting out the walls according to the scaled dimensions, after which I painted them white to create a clean and neutral base. The next step was preparing the mirrored surfaces for the floor and one of the walls. For this, I cut 10×10 cm Vivak panels and applied mirror foil to each tile, recreating the modular mirrored grid from the design. These first steps formed the foundation of the model and helped visualize how reflection and material contrast will play a key role in the final space.

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Final design: visuals

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Excursion Eindhoven

This week we visited Eindhoven for an excursion organized by Modular Lighting. We began the day at the Philips/Signify Light Application Centre, where we received a guided tour through the visitor centre. Here, we learned about the different properties of light and how it can be used to influence perception and atmosphere. The demonstrations showed how lighting behaves in various contexts such as retail and office environments, highlighting the impact of intensity, direction, and colour on spatial experience.

Afterward, we visited De Kazerne, where the owner gave us a short tour of the exhibition and introduced us to the work of several designers. It was inspiring to see how lighting, material, and presentation come together in a curated setting.

We concluded the day with a workshop by Modular Lighting, where we explored how light can be integrated into our own designs. This session helped me think more consciously about how light interacts with surfaces and forms , an important aspect to consider for my exhibition space.

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Material experimentation: Mycelium

After 2 weeks in the incubator, the mycelium grew a lot. The white parts is the mycelium that ate the elephants grass. The yellow spots are liquid that is produced by the mycelium.

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Test model preliminary design

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References:

Several key references have shaped the concept of this exhibition space.

The radical architecture collective Superstudio inspired the geometric and structural logic of the design. Their vision of infinite grids and modular continuity is echoed in the mirrored floor and orthogonal composition of the space, turning the exhibition into both a physical and conceptual framework for experiencing form.

Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms informed the immersive atmosphere. The mirrored wall and floor panels create a sense of infinite repetition, extending the space and reinforcing the idea of form and counterform, where objects and their reflections become one continuous experience.

Lastly, the Bourse de Commerce in Paris by Tadao Ando influenced the material contrast within the project. The dialogue between the historical structure and Ando’s concrete intervention parallels the relationship between the industrial Selene chair and the organic, bio-based architecture of my exhibition.

Together, these references guided the development of a spatial concept rooted in reflection, repetition, and contrast.

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Sketches preliminary design

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Mid-term presentation

During the midterm presentation, I pitched my exhibition concept to the class and received valuable feedback on both the spatial and experiential aspects of the design. The discussion helped me reflect on how visitors might interact with the space and how sensory elements could enhance the overall experience.

Several classmates suggested experimenting with lighting integrated into the puzzle pieces, to emphasize the relationship between form and counterform. Others proposed exploring different materials or finishes to create more contrast or tactile variation. There were also interesting questions about how the mycelium might influence the smell and atmosphere of the space, adding another sensory layer. Additionally, we discussed possible ways to communicate information within the exhibition, for example, through subtle graphic elements or projection instead of traditional text panels.

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Material experimentation: Mycelium

After the previous term, I received feedback that my material choices were not sufficiently sustainable. This encouraged me to explore alternatives that could align better with contemporary approaches to responsible design. I decided to focus on mycelium as the main material for this phase of the project.

Mycelium, the root structure of fungi, is a bio-based and fully biodegradable material that grows naturally and requires minimal energy to produce. It offers strength, insulation, and acoustic qualities while remaining lightweight and environmentally neutral. In my design, mycelium becomes the primary architectural element — forming both the sculptural wall and the ceiling of the exhibition space.

Its organic and tactile appearance stands in deliberate contrast to the industrial, mass-produced plastic of Vico Magistretti’s Selene chair and my own cast objects. This material opposition creates a dialogue between nature and industry, softness and precision, and connects the project to a broader conversation about sustainable design and production.

For the mycelium material, I used the Reishi mushroom as the biological base, combined with elephant grass, which serves as its natural nutrient source. The mixture was prepared in a sterile, antibacterial workspace to prevent contamination and then placed in an incubator for approximately two weeks. During this period, the mycelium gradually grew through the substrate, forming a dense, fibrous structure. This process results in a solid, lightweight, and fully biodegradable material that reflects both the organic nature and sustainable intent of the project.

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Inspiration: Wall as sculpture

In the modelhall at the faculty, there was a little exhibition of walls as key component, which gave me some inspiration on the concept of my ‘puzzle wall’.

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Concept idea

Concept: Forms and counter forms were the key theme in my last design of Contro Nodó. This will also be my new concept: A room designed with forms and counter forms that can be moved and stacked into each other like a puzzle. The chair and designed objects can be placed within the space and will fit into the ‘counterforms’. 

Keywords; Puzzle, monochrome, sculptural

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Excursion de Lakenhal, Leiden

The temporary exposition (hal 1 & 2) Masterful Mystery in 'De Lakenhal' in Leiden. Was a really interesting exposition where they exhibited an anonymous artist named I.S. that was specialized in portraits. The painting style was similar to Rembrandt with a detail for expression and faces.

The routing and set-up of the exposition was really nice and inspired my with their, color and lighting scheme, but also with their narrative and story telling thought the exposition. It triggered multiple senses and created an mysterious atmosphere that aligned with the theme.

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Sketches & ideas

Some ideas for the 'room'. The sketches I made this week visualize different concept ideas for my room. The first ideas where more focussed on the cultural aspect of the 60’s and its design elements like curves, plastic, woods, and eclectic interiors.

After a discussion with Michael, I concluded that I had to stick with the concept of my first design, with forms and counter forms as i showed in moodboard 2.