Visiting Pieter Teyler’s house

Teylers Museum, Haarlem (NL), 2021

The enlightened ideas of the 18th century live on in Pieter Teyler’s former residence. How do you make ideas visible?

Foto: Johan Nieuwenhuize

A home for Enlightenment thought

After a thorough restoration, the Pieter Teyler Huis officially opened to the public. Visitors to the Teylers Museum receive an “invitation” to explore the house on their own, as they might have as guests in the 18th century. They get a behind-the-scenes look at a place where for centuries, in Pieter Teyler’s spirit, people have worked to disseminate the ideas of the Enlightenment.


Foto: Johan Nieuwenhuize

A living historic site

The museum asked Studio Louter to help it develop an appropriate visitor plan for the listed building. What narrative should guide visitors’ experience? How did the house relate to the rest of the museum?

In multiple working sessions and workshops a concept was developed. It focuses on giving visitors a warm welcome and time to get acquainted with Pieter Teyler’s unique, still relevant legacy.

Teyler’s World

Along with developing the concept for the house, Studio Louter produced “Teyler’s World”, a visual story told on five screens that situates Pieter Teyler’s life within the context of his time.

“We’ve preserved Pieter Teyler’s house and brought it back to life. Now it has a future again.”

Marjan Scharloo, director Teylers Museum, Trouw — 30 November 2021