Wall Visual Donald van Schilt

A Wall of Experiment and Imagination

Anyone walking into Natlab can’t miss it: a 22-metre-long wall filled with history and imagination.
Artist Donald Van Schilt created a wall visual that tells the story of the Philips Physics Laboratory, from its earliest experiments to the Natlab we know today.

The wall connects more than a century of discoveries and ideas. You’ll spot the Van der Pol equation, the Casimir effect, the shortwave radio broadcast by Queen Wilhelmina, the Oscar-winning DP70 projector, the visit of Albert Einstein, and the first electronic sounds by Kid Baltan. Each image refers to a moment where science, technology, art, and imagination intersected — the very foundation from which Natlab emerged.

A Living History
The visual is not just a look back, but an invitation to see differently. Through augmented reality, the work gains an extra layer. Images, sounds, and archival fragments from Natlab’s history appear in the space, adding a sense of motion and time. The past becomes visible again in the present — just as Natlab has done for more than a century.

To experience the interactive layer, download the free Artivive app. Point your phone at the wall and uncover the stories hidden within the images.

The Spirit of Experiment
Where researchers and inventors once explored the boundaries of technology, artists, makers, and thinkers now do the same in film, theatre, and culture. The wall is a tribute to that enduring drive to experiment, to renew, and to connect.

Created Together
The concept and design were developed by Donald Van Schilt and installed by Kleefkracht.
The result is a work that makes history tangible and invites visitors to pause and reflect on where it all began.