paul&albert turn dutch front doors into sculptural cabinet for citizen participation in assen

"Rather than designing a conventional storage unit, the project interprets the front door as a symbolic element of the relationship between private households and the public realm. Each door represents an entry point to a different domestic environment, marking the threshold between individual life and the shared space of the city."

"The cabinet is constructed from components derived from traditional front door elements. Panels, glazed sections, and characteristic door proportions are deconstructed and recomposed to form a new object. The resulting structure resembles two doors folding into one another, creating the outer shell of the cabinet."

"The municipality of Assen commissioned the design duo Paul&Albert to create a cabinet for housing materials and instruments used in public communication and community engagement projects. These tools support dialogue with residents and help structure participatory initiatives within the city."

Dutch design duo Paul&Albert created the Front Door Cabinet for Assen municipality to organize tools for public communication and citizen participation. The cabinet translates the architectural language of domestic front doors into a sculptural storage unit, interpreting the front door as a symbolic element representing the relationship between private households and the public realm. Constructed from deconstructed traditional door elements including panels, glazed sections, and characteristic proportions, the cabinet resembles two doors folding into one another. The interior contains photographic portraits of Assen residents, referencing individuals living throughout the city. Inside, various instruments and communication methods are organized to support community interaction and participatory initiatives.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine