MVRDV designs world’s first public art depot

Dutch architect MVRDV has designed a public art store in Rotterdam’s recently re-opened Museumpark to house items from the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen

The €55m circular structure, which is clad in mirrored façade panels to reflect its surroundings, will allow visitors to view some of the museum’s 151,000 artworks, and also private and corporate collections

Royal BAM Group is working as contractor for the project, which is due to open in September 2021. It has recently planted 75 birch trees on the project’s roof garden, which will house a restaurant.

Winy Maas, a partner in MVRDV, said: "When Yves Brunier designed the Museumpark with OMA, I helped with the selection of the old trees.

"Now that the birches are being placed on the roof of the depot, the circle is complete; we are taking the park we removed to the top of the depot and enlarging it. Soon, people will be able to take the express lift up, free of charge, and enjoy a spectacular view of the city at a height of 34m."

Images courtesy of MVRDV