Playing Architecture – The City in Play: An Exhibition Exploring Games and Urban Environments

This exhibition explores the messages embedded in analog and digital games through the lens of architecture, examining how games reflect and can influence contemporary society and urban environments. It invites visitors to play, wonder, and critically reflect on the nature and role of architecture games.

The exhibition 'Playing Architecture – the City in Play' delves into the intersection of architecture and games, investigating the narratives, messages, and potential of both analog and digital forms. While often perceived as mere entertainment, games can embed restrictive or stigmatizing messages, and this exhibition aims to raise awareness of these inherent representations. Curated by cultural anthropologist Mélanie van der Hoorn and designed by architect Dafne Wiegers, it features a wide array of Amsterdam-related examples, encouraging visitors to engage directly with the games. The exhibition highlights how architectural games, from building blocks to digital simulations like SimCity, capture the ideals and challenges of their times, reflecting contemporary society and built environments. It poses questions about how digital worlds shape city development, how architects can utilize games in their design practices, and the role of 'expert oriented' games in facilitating dialogue among stakeholders. By focusing on specific design dilemmas or social issues, these games can reveal unaddressed topics and provide insights into complex realities, serving as a powerful form of cultural transmission and a tool for problem-solving.

Tickets are available for this exhibition and can be purchased via the provided link. The exhibition is displayed at Arcam and entry is subject to purchasing a ticket specifically for the exhibition. More information is available via the dedicated ticket link for Arcam exhibitions.