Design Poort opens the gates to Eindhoven Design District

During Dutch Design Week, the moment finally arrived: the festive opening of the Design Poort (Dutch for “Design Gate”) at Strijp-T – a striking design object that quite literally opens the gates to Eindhoven as the design capital of the Netherlands. The Design Poort was created by design duo Daphna Laurens, commissioned by Eindhoven Design District, our collaboration with the Municipality of Eindhoven, and Dutch Design Foundation.

Opening during Dutch Design Week

The opening took place during Dutch Design Week. In a video by Blickfänger, visitors got a behind-the-scenes look at the design process. Commissioner of the King Ina Adema, Eindhoven’s Design District alderman Robert Strijk, and Dutch Design Foundation’s Martijn Paulen shared stories about the origins and meaning of the project.

The icing on the cake

In many ways, the Design Poort is the icing on the cake of Eindhoven Design District – the project we launched in 2020 to make design in Eindhoven more visible and tangible. That meant not only highlighting existing places and stories through routes, markers, and eindhovendesigndistrict.com, but also adding new design to the city itself. From the start, we dreamed of creating a true eye-catcher, an iconic object that’s impossible to miss.

Bending and connecting

In 2023, we invited Eindhoven-based designers through a What if Lab to imagine a symbolic gateway for Eindhoven Design District. The jury selected Daphna Laurens' proposal, the Design Poort. Bending and connecting are at the heart of their concept. The large arches merge into one another and are firmly interconnected – a physical expression of the strength of Eindhoven’s design community, where designers reshape challenges, explore new perspectives, and bring people together. Around the Poort, visitors can take a seat, and as night falls, smart lighting makes the spot even more inviting.

A new home at Strijp-T

Originally, the Design Poort was meant to stand near the Stroomhuisje, but that location was lost in a fire last year. Eventually, the Poort found a new home at Strijp-T – and it couldn’t be a better fit. Positioned between Strijp-S and Strijp-R, it now forms a natural link for design lovers and visitors exploring the city.