The Fire Test
Co-creating fire safety with artists and fire fighters
The City of Amsterdam subsidises 68 artist hubs: often repurposed buildings temporarily occupied with ateliers and workshops. They make neighbourhoods thrive, but they also worry the local fire departments. Firefighters see danger in the flexible use of the spaces, in the mess creativity can cause and they suspect the artists work with toxic substances. The users of the buildings feel prejudiced, and say the fire department is not consistent with its rules.
We created ‘the Fire Test’ (de Vuurproef): one day lab, where three teams of firefighters and artists work together. Not to discuss the rules, but to look for DIY solutions in context, combining the knowledge of the fireman and the ingenuity of the artists. Fruitful interactions were sparked by exercises as a scavenger hunt for dangerous situations, tangible prototype material and of course, a fiery lunch with smoked sausages. The event itself, as well as its prototypes are now touring around other fire departments and artists hubs around the city.
Where, when Amsterdam, 2017
While working for Gemeente Amsterdam
Clients Gemeente Amsterdam HOT100, Brandweer Amsterdam Amstelland
Team Pam Roos ten Barge, Dewi Brinkhuis, Tessa Steenkamp, Ihsane El M’rabet