On Wednesday night 25 November, the Anatomical Theatre experience design for the Boerhaave Museum created by Tinker imagineers from Utrecht was awarded the Design Week Award, an international British design award, in London. 'A brilliantly fun and immersive experience', according to the expert jury. On top of that, the Anatomical Theatre received a ‘spark!’ from the American Spark Experience Awards, their highest praise.

Design Week Awards
Design Week is the news and inspiration platform for all design disciplines in Great Britain. The annual Design Week Awards showcase the best international projects, from branding and interior design to exhibitions and interactives. 

In the ‘Digital installations for exhibition, retail or offices’ category, the Anatomical Theatre beat three other projects, among which Type Reinvented by Monotype. In the Anatomical Theatre, visitors witness an introduction to six centuries of science in a six-minute audio-visual presentation, which doubles as an introduction to the museum. 

Spark Awards
The Spark Experience Awards were organised for the 9th time this year. The American design community ‘Spark’ has a mission ‘to initiate positive design-led change’ by promoting the best new ideas and design solutions for ‘designing our future’. 

Theater of Wonder
Just like in the 17th century, at the time of Boerhaave’s world-renowned anatomy lectures, the public sits down on the wooden benches of the theatre. Suddenly, the ‘Theatrum Anatomicum’ comes to life through video mapping on the walls, the ceiling and the dissecting table in the middle. Immersed in the show, the visitors experience that same timeless sense of wonder and curiosity that has inspired scientists through the ages. 

According to Museum Boerhaave: ‘Our museum has always been telling this extraordinary story about science, but there was too much information and it was too complex. We did have an Anatomical Theatre, but it was quiet and dead. The end result is not just a dressed-up version of the Anatomical Theatre or a film telling the story. It has become a valuable unity of elements that reinforce each other. The new presentation technology will surprise visitors and involve them in the story. Our visitors, from science professionals to primary school groups, leave the Anatomical Theatre enthusiastically, and start their tour of the museum armed with background information and a curious mindset.'

Shortlist Design Week Awards

More about the Anatomical Theatre