In de volle grond

Eindhoven is expanding—upward, outward, and downward. The underground space is just as crowded as the city above. Cables, pipes, and tree roots intertwine with underground containers and parking garages. With the city’s growth, increasing greenery, and the development of heating networks, this congestion will only intensify. How can we optimize the underground space? A smart approach is needed.

Every square inch above ground belongs to someone. But underground, ownership is more complex. Various parties with different interests use it—municipal authorities, water companies, energy providers, construction firms, and network operators. Now that space is running out, conflicts arise.

The interactive exhibition In de volle grond (In the open ground), designed by Envisions and fffunction.studio, made this issue tangible during Dutch Design Week 2022. The designers of morgenmakers, on behalf of the Municipality of Eindhoven, invited stakeholders and interested visitors to interactive, in-depth workshops. These workshops created a sense of urgency, provided Eindhoven with input for a long-term vision, and inspired concrete solution directions.

About the designers

fffunction.studio

fffunction.studio (form follows function) is a brand design studio based in Eindhoven. They design in the broadest sense of the word, helping clients with strategic clarity, distinctive design, and seamless brand activation. They simplify complex issues and make them accessible to a wider audience. Their clients include the Municipality of Eindhoven, Eindhoven365, Maas Kristinsson Architects, and Studio Sociaal Centraal. For In de volle grond, fffunction.studio collaborated with Envisions, Albert van Abbe, and Ricky van Broekhoven.

More information: fffunction.studio.studio.

morgenmakers

Design studio morgenmakers applies design thinking to social and societal challenges. They see opportunities where others see problems. Their approach involves creating new connections, programs, processes, or products. Through creative and interactive interventions, they bring overlooked and unheard insights to the table, forming the foundation for effective and widely supported solutions. Their clients include the Municipality of Tilburg, ActiZ, Summa College, the Municipality of Eindhoven, and Woonbedrijf.

More information: morgenmakers.nl.

Envisions

Envisions is een multidisciplinaire ontwerpstudio, die nieuw licht werpt op materialen van alledag. De ontwerpers vinden nieuwe toepassingen voor materialen, creëren visionaire ruimtes en ontwikkelen inspirerende content vooruitstrevende organisaties en merken. Door verschillende ontwerpdisciplines te combineren, maakt Envisions de toekomst van materialen tastbaar. Zo helpen ze fabrikanten, ontwerpers, architecten en gebruikers anders naar materialen kijken: van fabricage tot en met de manier waarop ze toegepast worden. Envisions werkt onder meer met en voor KLM, TextielMuseum, Levi’s, Sikkens en TNO.

More information: envisions.nl.

The context

Eindhoven is no stranger to complex societal challenges such as climate change, aging populations, health, broad prosperity, and urban densification. The municipality regularly collaborates with designers to tackle these issues. In 2022, the Municipality of Eindhoven participated in Dutch Design Week to demonstrate how design can drive solutions to societal problems—like the overcrowded underground, which threatens tree roots, stormwater drainage, and the construction of new homes and heating networks. The municipality aimed to develop a long-term vision and enlisted creative designers to raise awareness, engage stakeholders, and gather valuable input.

The idea

How do you make an invisible problem visible? And how can an exhibition during Dutch Design Week maximize impact? According to Thomas Kampers, art director from fffunction.studio, visitors needed to see, feel, smell, and hear the underground. The exhibition had to be an immersive experience—show, don’t tell—so that visitors would remember it, talk about it, and start seeing the underground differently.

The Municipality of Eindhoven developed an underground vision and sought input from experts, stakeholders, and residents. The exhibition provided the perfect opportunity, so the municipality enlisted morgenmakers to design an interactive program. The process started with fundamental questions: What does the municipality want from the program? Which stakeholders must be involved?

The plan

Fffunction.studio mapped Eindhoven’s underground space—gray pipes, colorful cables, a bomb shelter under the market, underground containers, and tree roots displaced by concrete. The concept: minimal words, maximum experience. Envisions was brought in to design the exhibition, focusing on sensory immersion. Visitors would feel as if they were underground. Envisions also created surreal objects based on real underground materials. Sound designers Ricky van Broekhoven and Albert van Abbe added a soundscape, while fffunction.studio developed a striking visual identity.

The execution

To create engaging and effective workshops, morgenmakers designed interactive sessions where participants could immerse themselves in the underground issue. They structured the workshops around three key objectives: experiencing the complexity of the issue, sharing perspectives, and fostering a sense of responsibility. Participants included professionals from various sectors, as well as unexpected stakeholders like a city forester, who represented the perspective of trees. By shifting the role of the municipality to that of an observer, participants were empowered to take ownership of the problem and propose solutions collaboratively.

The exhibition also served as the starting point for an in-depth program. Workshop participants first visited the exhibition before gathering at Microlab in groups of about twelve. A quiet, enclosed space was essential, ensuring every participant felt comfortable discussing and thinking critically. Workshops began with an introduction round using underground-related objects—colorful cables, flexible pipes, a tree root, and ceramic pieces (symbolizing archaeological findings). These objects helped participants introduce themselves and reflect on the order in which these elements should be placed underground. This initial interaction set the tone: trust, collaboration, and a shared challenge. How do we solve this issue together? This laid a strong foundation for developing creative underground solutions.

The results

The exhibition made the unseen visible, sparking conversation. Over 15,000 visitors engaged with Eindhoven’s underground during Dutch Design Week 2022, raising awareness of this pressing issue. Other Dutch municipalities expressed interest in the exhibition, recognizing its relevance.

A total of 57 participants attended the workshops. Morgenmakers compiled the insights into a report, which informed Eindhoven’s underground strategy. Some solutions were ready for immediate adoption, while others required further research or pilot projects.