Playing Architecture in 6 Types: An Exhibition at Arcam Exploring Games and Urban Design

This exhibition explores the dynamic relationship between games and architecture, inviting visitors to discover how games influence our understanding and interaction with the built environment. It examines games as both reflections and shapers of societal norms and values in relation to urban development.

The exhibition 'Playing Architecture – het spel om de stad' (Playing Architecture – the game for the city) delves into the world of games and architecture, presenting a space where games take center stage. It invites visitors to playfully discover the connections between these two fields, highlighting how architecture games reflect our engagement with the built environment and how architecture, in turn, shapes our lives. The exhibition is presented as a layered experience suitable for architects, gamers, academics, students, tourists, families, and residents of Amsterdam. It showcases how digital games, with their continuous innovation and adaptation, can inspire architects to engage with digitalization. Concepts like navigating ever-changing worlds, user-determined spaces, and architecture that misleads the viewer are explored. The exhibition also features related publications and initiatives, such as Ekim Tan's 'Play the City – Games Informing the Urban Development' and cultural anthropologist Mélanie van der Hoorn's research into architecture in comic form and short films. Various examples illustrate how games can be educational tools, offering insights into urban planning, gaming hubs, and evolving concepts of play, such as the 'PoppenVilla' and the 'Luisterhuis', designed to be inclusive of diverse family structures and abilities.

Visitors are invited to explore 'Playing Architecture' at Arcam on Prins Hendrikkade. Specific ticketing information beyond general museum access is not detailed on this page, but visitors are encouraged to visit the exhibition.