social cultural trends: Blending in

Suspecting that Todays Orange weather alert will keep the crowd at home and the Amsterdam Stedelijk Museum empty I feel finally ready to visit this recently reopened building.

I am not sure yet what to think of the bathtub shaped new museum extension that contains the new main entrance but today its appearance blends in perfectly well with the temporary snow white environment. I wonder, does an architect consider the different seasons when designing a building?

I arrive just in time to mingle in with a troop of excited school children. Threatened by some circulating snowballs I quickly dive into the big white bathtub, once inside it feels warm and safe. This almost floating monumental space offers an instantly agreeable atmosphere, bright and airy.

I am not the only visitor after all but the gathered crowd easily hives of in all directions and in no time is swallowed by the spick and span spacious museum halls. One of the guards explains me that in the weekend there are over the 5000 visitors a day. It feels like the new building can easily digest this.

This first visit is just a quick orientation, some halls are closed since the museum is working on the delayed Mike Kelly exhibition that will open December the 15th. During my tour there are two things that catch my attention;

In one of the ground floor halls metal cabinets are placed against the wall, visitors are allowed to open the drawers. Nicely arranged vulnerable design related objects are presented, each drawer contains a new visual surprise. Exploring the content of the drawers is definitely fun.

Close to the former entrance, underneath the famous staircase is a small space, painted red, called the Family Lab. The entrance radiates a nice red glow from within and seduces the families to enter.Theme related activities are organized and films are shown, I see some beautiful drawings on the wall...