During the Second World War, the Hollandsche Schouwburg, once a vibrant theatre, fell under the control of the Nazis. Commencing in July 1942, this historic site became a grim gathering point for Jews who were ordered to report for deportation. Within its walls, tens of thousands of individuals were assembled, their fates sealed as they were sent to concentration and extermination camps. Today, the Hollandsche Schouwburg stands not as a theatre but as a solemn memorial to the countless victims of the Holocaust.
Our involvement in the renovation of this building encompassed several critical aspects, including the design of both its architectural lighting and significant features such as the glass drops and the Ner Tamid.
For the interior, our lighting design sought to maintain a sense of minimalism, employing predominantly diffuse lighting to evoke feelings of openness and tranquility. The intention was to ensure that the monument itself remained the central focus for visitors, while providing calm spaces for reflection. To enhance coherence throughout the building, luminaires from a single product family were utilized.
For the exterior, the emphasis of the lighting scheme was on accentuating the monument and the remaining walls of the Schouwburg, ensuring their visibility for visitors and passers-by.
Collaborating closely with exhibition designers, we conceived luminous glass drops that narrate the important stories of the Dutch Jews who once passed through the Hollandsche Schouwburg. These waterproofed elements, positioned in the exterior courtyard, incorporate a chip to activate an audio guide, along with dynamic lighting to create a cohesive composition between all the drops.
The Ner Tamid, symbolizing an everlasting flame, holds profound significance within the memorial. Originally featuring a glass flame encased in a tube, we faced the challenge of adapting this element for outdoor display, considering both weather resilience and daylight visibility. Our solution involved a custom-made tube housing a small spotlight, ensuring the light would shine perpetually, day and night, preserving its symbolic importance.
Photography: Thijs Wolzak, Mike Bink, Max Hart Nibbrig