Dutch design duo Kiki & Joost has opened a public exhibition space attached to the pair’s Eindhoven studio, allowing them to showcase their work in a more “open and free” way than in a traditional gallery.
Kiki van Eijk and Joost van Bleiswijk are a couple who make work as independent designers and also together under the name Kiki & Joost.
The designers have positioned a mono-pitched exhibition space with a prefabricated Douglas fir structure adjacent to their Eindhoven studio and workshop, which was revealed during this month’s Dutch Design Week.
“The world is changing,” Van Eijk told Dezeen. “People are interested in design but they are also interested in seeing how designers work, what their workshops are like, what they are interested in.”
“We felt the urge to have an exhibition space for ourselves to present things as soon as they are ready, where nothing is planned beforehand and it can all be super spontaneous,” she added. “It makes a big difference from planning ahead with museums or galleries.”
Assembled onsite within two days, the basic structure contains no steel or glue and is held together by hammered wood pins, while the flooring was finished in poured concrete.
“If necessary, it would be really easy to take the structure apart and it can be recycled,” said Van Eijk.
Spanning 190 square metres, the exhibition space is separated from Kiki & Joost’s studio and workshop by a planted courtyard garden, which was landscaped by Van Eijk.
“Everything you see is designed by us or by a friend,” said Van Bleiswijk.
“Our building is completely energy-neutral,” added Van Eijk. “We have solar panels that generate more energy than we use for heating and machines.”
Roughly L-shaped, the exhibition space features ample room for impromptu exhibitions as well as concealed storage space, including shelves hidden behind floor-to-ceiling folding doors that are used for showcasing large archival works.
In one corner, there is a small bespoke kitchen designed for the project by Italian brand Very Simple Kitchen. Elsewhere, Kiki & Joost created an open-plan shop for visitors. However, the designers emphasised that selling work was not their primary motivation for the space.
“We deliberately call it an exhibition space rather than a gallery because we don’t want to compete with galleries,” explained Van Eijk.
“We don’t see ourselves as a gallery. We don’t really have a commercial perspective. Of course, people can buy something here but that’s not our main goal. We just want to present our works in a super open and free way.”
During Dutch Design Week, Kiki & Joost presented a joint exhibition at the space called Carte Blanche. Among the works on show were ceramic and handblown glass objects by Van Eijk and bold furniture by Van Bleiswijk informed by “a vibrant punk aesthetic”.
The duo said that they plan for the space to serve the local design scene, with a Design Academy Eindhoven student exhibition already scheduled for January.
“We hope that the exhibition space will enhance the community feeling in Eindhoven,” Van Eijk said, adding that the flexibility of the space will allow it to house a range of different design shows.
“If someone comes to us with an interesting idea, we want to be able to improvise,” she added.
Previously projects from Kiki & Joost include a collection of distinctively patterned solar panels for Dutch company MyEnergySkin.
Other highlights at this year’s Dutch Design Week ranged from cartoonish furniture to a six-tiered pyramid wrapped in colourful flags offering 80 different symbols for peace.
The photography is courtesy of Kiki & Joost.
Dutch Design Week 2024 took place in Eindhoven from 19 to 27 October. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.
