Who we are
The Ministry of Imagination is a collective of creative thinkers and doers who jointly use their knowledge and imagination to help libraries and other cultural institutions make their future plans reality.
With our versatile expertise and talents, we complement each other perfectly and are able to support in all aspects of a change process. Whether it concerns vision and strategy development, a contemporary interior design, the introduction of a new working method or the setting up of surprising programming, we put together the best team for every assignment.
What we do
We help libraries and other cultural institutions to develop a future proof vision, including the strategy and working methods that go with it. We then translate this into a high-profile design with its own unique identity that matches the character of the surrounding community.
We have broad experience with libraries, but also work for other cultural and collecting institutions. With our vision and the innovative work process that we have developed, we know how to bind partners to a shared ambition.
Whatever the reason: cutbacks, a merger, a new building … it starts with a clear vision of the significance of the library or cultural institution for the local society. What developments are occurring, what role does the organisation want to play in this and what does that mean in practice? We look for answers to these questions in an open and active collaboration with our clients. In a number of workshops we explore the changes in society, we investigate the core values of the organisation and we map the DNA of the local environment. We also organise excursions to special places and organisations where management and employees can gain inspiration for their own vision and focus.
No concrete plans yet, but you need a vision that the municipality can build upon? We follow closely what happens in society and are well aware of trends and developments in library construction and furnishing, both in the Netherlands and in the rest of the world. We are happy to use our knowledge and experience to organise inspiring excursions, give presentations and draw up clear and convincing vision documents.
We translate the vision into a building and / or furnishing plan that provides the building with a strong, distinctive identity. Because we are inspired by the location, character and possible history of the building, our designs are never a copy. We deliver a unique and high-profile design that meets the needs of the local community and the role that the partners want to play.
In consultation with our clients we create a narrative; a clear and appealing story that describes what the main drivers of the organisation are and how they are expressed in the new building. This creates a coherent and guiding story that can be used to communicate with the outside world and that helps internally to stay on track and motivate employees.
Present times require a different way of working, whether that involves a new interior or not. We help management teams to sharpen their strategy and switch to a different work process and a different organisation. In a number of workshops we take the employees along in this story and we teach them to understand these new working methods.
We advocate “learning by doing” and support libraries and partner institutions in prototyping new work methods. Together we look for valuable experiments, supervise implementations and organise critical reflection, so that a sustainable new work practice can gradually develop.
In addition, we have the expertise to help set up and implement meaningful programming and organise (opening) activities.
With our writing and design talents, we can provide various means of communication, from appealing presentations to policy documents, public brochures, models and other conversation pieces that portray the story of the new organisation.
Order: 'Imagination and Participation'. Our book on public library architecture
For several years now, we’ve been developing new forms of public library work at the Ministry of Imagination. Our aim is to design libraries that actively use the collection; where space is created for a new work process in which co-creation, knowledge sharing and participation are fundamental. But what does this mean for the architecture of public libraries? Existing programs of requirements offer no solutions, so we embarked on an exploration into the new role of the library and, in particular, into the architecture and form language that goes along with it.
As a result of our exploration, we made an English book about the future architecture of public libraries, called: Imagination and Participation: Next Step in Public Library Architecture. The central question in the book is whether the changing role of the public library could lead to a new typology, a new building type with its own readable architecture. With this richly illustrated book we aim to inspire librarians, architects, planners and policy makers to bring about a truly innovative architecture that reflects the new role of public libraries in society. The book was published by nai010 publishers in December 2021 and can be ordered online. More information about the book can be found on the website imaginationandparticipation.com.
Projects
Team
We complement each other perfectly with our diverse expertise and talents and can support all aspects of a change process, whether it is concept and strategy development, contemporary interior design, the introduction of a new way of working or the design of surprising events: we put together the best team for each assignment.
Florian de Visser
Marien Brand
Rob Bruijnzeels
