The Antoni van Leeuwenhoek year starts with the free exhibition: FOCUS

“FOCUS: 25 students designing for Antoni van Leeuwenhoek" is a one-of-a-kind exhibition showcasing the creative possibilities of displaying the history of microbiology through the eyes of architecture students. The exhibition, located in OPEN Delft, takes place in honor of the year of Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, a key figure in the history of microbiology research. This year it has been 300 years since Antoni van Leeuwenhoek passed away in Delft after having lived and worked here for over 90 years.

This exhibition is the result of a commission issued by TU Delft Science Centre to students of the minor, Spaces of Display, from the TU Delft Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment. The TU Delft holds a collection of works by Antoni van Leeuwenhoek and other Delft microbiology pioneers, such as Willem Beijerink and Gerrit van Iterson Jr. The 25 students were required to create designs for an exhibition about Antoni van Leeuwenhoek and his successors.

Over the past six months, each student worked on their curation of the collection and design for the exhibition, resulting in a diverse array of plans that focus on unique aspects of Antoni van Leeuwenhoek's work. The outcome of this work is now on display in OPEN Delft and features models of student designs, showcasing the creative displays of microscopy. Visitors will also be able to see a selection of microscopy artefacts, such as a replica of the microscope of Antoni van Leeuwenhoek. 

This exhibition is a unique opportunity to explore the history of microscopy and its possibilities for the future, whilst being surrounded by creative works of 25 young designers. Join us from Friday 27th of January until Saturday 11th of February for the exhibition and learn more about the assignment and process behind it.

All age groups are welcome. Children can discover the exhibition through a playful activity in which parents are more than welcome to help their little ones! Furthermore, several seating areas have been organized where more information about the concepts and designs can be found. The exhibition is created so the visitor can choose whether they want to stroll around or follow one specific student in detail.