The artist duo is transforming a historic locomotive hall into an immersive space centered on movement, light, and human connection.
A Historic Hall Reimagined
Amsterdam’s Van Gendt Hallen, once an industrial site where locomotives were built, is being transformed into the future DRIFT Museum. The large scale renovation will give the acclaimed Dutch studio a permanent home designed specifically for its ambitious installations.
Co founder Lonneke Gordijn recently shared early details of the project during a private site tour, explaining that the museum grew from practical need rather than long held ambition.
Designed for Light, Motion, and Scale
DRIFT is known for kinetic artworks, drone performances, and immersive light based installations that often require custom engineering. According to Gordijn, traditional museums frequently lack the infrastructure needed to fully support these works.
The new museum is being conceived as a hybrid between gallery and theater, with built in systems to power installations involving air, movement, and advanced mechanics. Rather than forcing the art into existing spaces, the building is being shaped around the needs of the work itself.
Creating Time, Space, and Togetherness
Instead of following a standard chronological museum format, the DRIFT Museum will focus on creating environments that influence how visitors feel and interact. The studio hopes the space will encourage reflection and connection in an increasingly digital world.
Gordijn emphasized that the mission goes beyond displaying art, describing the goal as giving people something often missing from modern life: time and space.
The DRIFT Museum is scheduled to open later this year, marking a major new chapter for the studio and a permanent stage for its evolving vision.
