Urban Discovery
In 2025, STRAAT collaborated with Urban Discovery to transform a neglected electricity box in the heart of the Dapperplein market in Amsterdam into a vibrant, community-centered mural. The project aimed to celebrate the neighborhood’s history, diversity, and everyday life, turning a grey and overlooked surface into a meaningful focal point for residents and visitors alike.
The project brought together several key partners. Urban Discovery, a non-profit agency for urban storytelling. They brought in their expertise in cultural heritage and community engagement. Their team researched the history of the market, interviewed residents and captured the visual history of the Dapperbuurt by collecting historical photographs, personal anecdotes, and stories from market traders and customers. STRAAT contributed curatorial guidance, technical expertise, and creative oversight to ensure the project met the highest artistic and social standards.
This Project was funded and initiated by winkeliersvereniging Dapperstraat.
For the artistic execution, Chris Marmier was selected for his ability to visualize community narratives in a positive and empowering way. Chris brought a distinctive creative voice and style while actively engaging the community in the design process, ensuring the mural reflected the lived experiences of Dapperplein’s residents and traders.
The project turned a grey, unloved utility box into a vibrant, celebratory landmark that highlighted the past, present, and diverse characters of the Dapperbuurt. Chris Marmier illustrated the neighborhood’s story by integrating historical materials, personal anecdotes, and voices from the market — even incorporating the animals that bring the square to life.
Key objectives and outcomes included:
Community Integration: The mural authentically reflected the experiences of residents, market traders, and visitors. The design process was participatory, enabling the community to contribute ideas, anecdotes, and feedback on both theme and color palette.
Neighborhood Identity: The visual elements draw from the area’s history, character, and daily life, creating a strong sense of local pride and reflecting the true spirit of the place.
Preventative Value: By creating a high-quality, thoughtfully executed mural, the project helped deter vandalism and reduce poster placement, improving the streetscape and creating a safer, more welcoming environment.
Participatory Process: Residents and visitors were actively engaged transforming an ordinary utility box into a meaningful “gift for the neighborhood.”
Artistic Approach: Chris Marmier merged professional graffiti techniques with storytelling, incorporating both personal and collective memories from the community.
Diverse and Inclusive Perspective: The mural acknowledged the neighborhood’s diversity, reflecting a broad spectrum of community stories and experiences.
Through its creativity, technical expertise, and educational approach, STRAAT helped deliver an artwork that not only enhanced the visual landscape of Dapperplein but also strengthened community connection and pride. The mural became a celebrated focal point in the busy market, illustrating how public art can meaningfully engage and uplift local communities.
Photos from Marco Vet