Naturalis Biodiversity Center – Dinosaur Gallery
Client: Naturalis Museum
Location: Leiden, Netherlands
Size: 1,450 m²
Timeframe: 2014–2019
Role: Design Lead & Creative Direction

Naturalis challenged us to reimagine their dinosaur gallery—already a visitor favourite—into something even more impactful. The goal: to deepen understanding of dinosaurs as once-living animals and clarify that they did not coexist with humans. The design approach borrowed from cinema and theatre, using dramatic lighting, dynamic projection, and immersive soundscapes to transport visitors into the prehistoric world.

Floor-to-ceiling mesh gauzes, printed and layered throughout the 12-metre-high space, create a textured, rustling environment from which dinosaurs appear to emerge. Lighting and mounting techniques suggest subtle movement, adding to the illusion of life. Central to the gallery are three iconic specimens—Trix the T. rex, Dirk the Triceratops, and a towering Camarasaurus, now fully visible for the first time thanks to the expansive vertical space.

We eliminated glass barriers wherever possible, encouraging visitors to see, listen, and touch—drawing them into direct, sensory engagement with the gallery. The result is a visceral, cinematic environment that treats dinosaurs as active characters rather than static displays.

The project has been celebrated internationally, contributing to Naturalis winning European Museum of the Year 2021.