Location: Almere Stad, Netherlands.

Architect: Studio Ossidiana.

The Dutch city of Almere, built on reclaimed land, lacks a museum of note despite its growing population of nearly 220,000. To address this, local, provincial, and national government administrators decided to experiment with a temporary art pavilion for immersive art. The resulting pavilion, named M., was designed by young duo Studio Ossidiana and features three circles: The Port, The Stage, and The Observatory. The Port is a ring-shaped promenade on the water, The Stage is an island with a terrace that will drift like a floating platform in strong winds, and The Observatory has two exhibition spaces. M. is a prelude to a new icon for Almere and Flevoland, a precursor to a nationally and internationally renowned museum to be established in Almere in the next five to ten years if the pilot is a success. The museum-to-be wants to make immersive and landscape art accessible to everyone, with or without prior knowledge of art. Visitors will be immersed in the art shown, drawn into it, become part of it, or even participate in its creation. M. also introduces the art to audiences in public spaces. In addition, M. has developed a comprehensive educational program for primary and higher education that is currently being tested. By engaging and questioning students, they aim to identify what triggers and moves them to help shape the museum’s future plans. M. is financed with a contribution from the Fonds Verstedelijking Almere and is part of the program Almere 2.0, in which the municipality of Almere, the province of Flevoland, and the state invest in the city.

Photo credit: Riccardo de Vecchi for M.