Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen,
design: MVRDV
November 2021 marked the official opening of the Boijmans Van Beuningen depot in Rotterdam, a facility that goes beyond the traditional understanding of a museum. Designed by architects from the MVRDV studio, the building serves as both a storage facility for more than 150,000 works of art and an accessible museum space for visitors. What's more, the building is distinguished by its innovative form, and the designers' goal was to create an innovative space that would attract a diverse audience, rather than following classic museum standards. The building, which is the world's first fully accessible art storage center, is located in Museumpark, in the heart of Rotterdam.
The storage facility for the art collection of the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam - a bird's-eye view of the block
photo by Ossip van Duivenbode © MVRDV
cooperation and project implementation
The building was developed in cooperation between the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum, the city of Rotterdam and the De Verre Bergen Foundation. The warehouse building, developed by the MVRDV studio, was realized by BAM Bouw en Techniek. The opening of the facility marked the end of an almost ten-year process - MVRDV won the architectural competition in 2013, and construction began in 2017. The official inauguration took place on November 5, 2021. The goal of the project was to give visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the museum's operations and provide access to the entire art collection.
The art collection warehouse of the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam - the compact, circular form of the building fits naturally into its surroundings
photo by Ossip van Duivenbode © MVRDV
cylindrical form as
's answer to limited space
The building was designed on a relatively small plot of land, which prompted the MVRDV design team, led by architect Winy Maas, to create a compact, circular form that fits naturally into its surroundings. The structure gradually expands upward, taking on a cylindrical shape, allowing for additional space on the upper floors. This form of the building harmonizes with the space, alluding to the nearby park.
The art collection warehouse of the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam - a cross-section of the building
© MVRDV
mirrored facade:
Integration with the environment and variability of form
The mirrored facade, consisting of 1,664 glass panels, allows the building to subtly blend into its surroundings. The entrance to the museum is only discernible during opening hours, while the closed doors almost disappear, integrating with the rest of the glass structure. This allows the building to change its appearance depending on the time of day and weather conditions.
The art collection warehouse of the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam - the facade consists of 1,664 glass panels
photo by Ossip van Duivenbode © MVRDV
innovative deposit and exhibition spaces
The space in the building was designed around a central atrium with intersecting staircases and windows facing the art storage areas, allowing the works to be viewed from different perspectives. Thirteen spacious showcases located in different parts of the building allow visitors to get acquainted with elements of the collection from the moment they enter. The interior design was created in collaboration with artists - John Körmeling designed the entrance area and Marieke van Diemen developed the concept for the display cases.
The art collection warehouse of the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam - an interior view of the facility
photo by Ossip van Duivenbode © MVRDV
In addition to storage spaces designed to house art and design, the building includes exhibition halls, a rooftop garden and a restaurant. The building also houses storage facilities, conservation studios, catering facilities and cinema and presentation rooms. The interior is divided into five climate zones, which have been adapted to store works of art that require special conditions, such as prints, paintings and photographs. Visitors can explore the climate-controlled storage spaces on their own or participate in organized guided tours.
Visitors can now see for themselves the love, care and attention to detail with which each work of art is preserved for future generations
- Sjarel Ex and Ina Klaassen say,
directors of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.
The warehouse of the art collection of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam
Photo by Ossip van Duivenbode © MVRDV
vegetation at height
The building also represents an innovative approach to introducing greenery into the urban space. A key element is a 35-meter-high rooftop forest, which even before it opened won acclaim as the best rooftop in the Netherlands. It features 75 birch trees, 20 pine trees and grasses planted to act as water retention, increase biodiversity and mitigate the urban heat island effect. The trees were prepared for three years in a nursery, where their roots were intertwined, allowing them to adapt to their new environment. Thanks to the wind shields used and the specific layout of the restoration, the birches are protected from strong gusts of wind, allowing the vegetation to survive in the conditions of exposure at a height of 35 meters.
The art collection warehouse of the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam - a key element of the facility is the 35-meter-high forest on the roof, which even before it opened won recognition as the best roof in the Netherlands
photo by Ossip van Duivenbode © MVRDV
I'm fascinated by the versatility of this building: it's both a place where you can walk among magnificent works of art, and a space where you can admire exceptional architecture, both outside and inside [...]. What's more, it's a space where future artists and conservators - children and students of today - can feel the fascination of the process of creating, preserving and restoring works of art
- says Said Kasmi,
Rotterdam councilor for education, culture and tourism.
The warehouse of the art collection of the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam - The entrance to the museum is only noticeable during opening hours
photo by Aad Hoogendoorn © MVRDV
The building was not designed as a second museum where only parts of the collection are displayed, but as a place that provides insight into the process of storing and preserving works of art and design. A tour of the building offers a new experience in which works are arranged according to their size and climatic requirements, rather than by historical periods. Works from different eras - both ancient and contemporary - are displayed side by side, allowing new connections and interpretations to be discovered.
Elaborated: Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of the MVRDV studio.