Museums come in all shapes and sizes and Dutch design firm ZJA look set to contribute a new kind of cultural attraction to the world – one that comes with a provenance more captivating – and complicated – than most. Having proposed designs for the underwater display of an old sunken galleon that met its plight off the coast of Britain nearly 300 years ago, the major thing to consider when thinking of ZJA’s project is that the ship still lies buried beneath the sand a short way from the seaside town of Hastings.
Dubbed ‘Docking the Amsterdam’, the museum will be established only once the ship has been relocated across the English Channel and moored in the Amsterdam harbour without the boat leaving the water. Once in situ, a glass tank to be constructed around the wreck will show the ship – once part of the fleet of the Dutch East India Company (hence its return to Amsterdam) – in all its 40-meter-long former glory. After running aground in 1749 and lying partially buried ever since, the ship’s hull and contents remain intact, offering the potential for a fascinating new museum experience.
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