The Onderduikmuseum in Aalten wants to renew itself and prepare for the future. Driven by the ambition to become more relevant to a broader audience, it is embarking on a major transformation. At the heart of the concept is connecting the five separate museum buildings with a striking canopy: a sparkling, parametrically designed roof that symbolizes the shelter Aalten offered to people in hiding during the war. This architectural intervention gives the museum a new heart and turns the separate parts into a cohesive whole.

The new interior space beneath the canopy will become a multifunctional place where visitors can meet and from which they can find their way to the different parts of the museum. The layout is intentionally open and flexible, without fixed routes, so visitors can wander and discover their own story. The existing buildings retain their character, while becoming a tangible part of a larger whole.

Alongside a renewed visitor experience, the plan provides space for hospitality, events, and rentals, enabling new revenue models. An old parking lot will be transformed into a green museum garden, a quiet retreat in the middle of the town center. Sustainability is central to the design: the roof will be built with recycled materials and fitted with transparent solar panels that generate energy. This creates a sustainable, future oriented museum environment where the wartime past is connected to the present in a contemporary way. The museum will gain not only a new appearance, but also a broader meaning as a place for meeting, reflection, and connection.