Silo Designs Wayfinding and Spatial System for Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam

Silo designed the spatial layout and signage for Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, envisioning the Rotterdam art storage facility as an engaging public vault instead of a traditional museum. According to Creative Director Rene Toneman, the experience for visitors resembles entering through a staff entrance. The design encompasses seven levels, featuring room identifiers like A2.13 and A3.07 etched onto the raw concrete, based on the original floor plans. Clean sans serif fonts present Dutch and English labels, while modular light boxes are suspended from columns near the staircases, and perforated metal cubes illuminate arrows for efficient navigation. Illuminated panels with clear icons direct visitors to the rooftop lift, and glass vitrines in the atrium showcase artifacts. In the entry area, large digital displays monitor climate zones and collection data, live camera feeds provide real-time updates from the building, and touch screens by the depot windows present collection insights and staff interviews. Silo opted for robust, tactile production techniques that align with the concrete setting, steering clear of decorative museum clichés in favor of practical functionality. The project is showcased on Behance.