House of European History - Presence of the Past

Following the success of Bellum et Artes, Meyvaert was commissioned for the design and build of The Presence of the Past, the latest temporary exhibition at the House of European History. The project stands out for its exceptional implementation of circularity and EMAS principles, with the objective of reusing as many existing materials as possible while delivering a fully renewed exhibition experience. The exhibition design was led by Marie Douel Studio.

As the museum’s first photographic exhibition, The Presence of the Past explores how Europeans interact with history in daily life. Through seven themed sections, it reflects on remembrance, identity and the social relevance of historical narratives today.

Operating under a very tight budget and across a large exhibition surface, Meyvaert worked closely with the client to identify and repurpose all available resources. Every single element of the exhibition setworks, walls, AV hardware, and display cases was reused from previous exhibitions. All display cases were retrofitted, and all the audiovisual equipment was sourced from the museum’s own stock. Even the design’s distinctive stone elements were locally sourced through rental from a private Brussels resident, who had salvaged them from nearby demolition sites. These stones were creatively integrated into the exhibition as picture mounts, podiums, and benches.

Despite strict on-site constraints, including noise restrictions during museum hours and limited coordination time due to late notifications from other contractors, Meyvaert maintained full control of the schedule. Planning buffers were introduced early on, allowing the team to stay within budget and deliver the exhibition on time.

All stakeholders acknowledged the complexity of delivering a high-quality result with almost entirely reused materials. The result exceeded expectations and highlighted the value of sustainable exhibition practices.