Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen

Brief information

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is notable not only for its collection, but also because storage here has become a distinct form of architecture. The art museum in Rotterdam grew out of the private collection of Frans Jacob Otto Boijmans, bequeathed to the city in the 19th century. Later, the holdings were expanded with the collection of Daniël George van Beuningen, and the museum’s modern name directly preserves this dual foundation.

The old museum building was constructed in 1935 and expanded in 1972. Today, what matters more nearby is not a single facade story, but a shift in the museum’s purpose: the historic building is being reconstructed, while in 2020 a separate Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen appeared for the vast collection. It shows that a museum consists not only of exhibition galleries, but also of a complex system for preserving objects.

What to notice right away

The main visible detail is the form of Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen. The building is described as a mirrored bowl: it is narrower at the bottom, about 40 meters in diameter, and widens toward the top to 60 meters. Because of this, the volume reads not as an ordinary museum wing, but as a special vessel for the collection. The mirrored cladding is not merely an effect here: the panels are meant to protect the exhibits from sunlight, which is dangerous for storage.

It is worth comparing the external “bowl” with the interior arrangement. Inside are five climate zones, where objects are placed according to their storage requirements. The birch grove on the roof adds another unexpected layer: above the art storage facility is a living patch of nature. Against this backdrop, the historic 1935 building is perceived differently: its reconstruction is connected not with cosmetic changes, but with physical aging and the asbestos used in its construction.