IN-PERSON London Heritages. Section A

Abstract

This paper examines modern museum spaces that serve as heritage sites by drawing on two early forms of museums: the Theatre of Memory and the Cabinets of Curiosity. The study focuses on the Heineken Experience Amsterdam, a brewery transformed into a museum in 1988, and the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre, part of the Royal Museums Greenwich. The research employs documentary analysis, observations, and case studies to explore these sites. The Theatre of Memory, conceived by Giulio Camillo Delminio (1480-1544), aimed to archive all human knowledge on different levels of a half-circle, allowing retrieval through associations with images and symbols. The Heineken Experience Amsterdam serves as a modern example of this concept, offering an educational tour that illustrates the pilsner brewing process while bringing the Heineken brand to life. Conversely, the Cabinets of Curiosity functioned as repositories of miscellaneous knowledge and theatres of nature, presenting comprehensive or partial worldviews through collections. The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre exemplifies this modern development by turning its workspace inside out for public viewing, enabling visitors to explore the hidden treasures of its state-of-the-art storage facility. Both heritage sites underscore the situated theory in architectural heritage, emphasizing the importance of understanding local context and socio-cultural systems. These sites enhance the design of local social actions within communities for educational purposes, fostering a deeper connection between heritage and contemporary society.