Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum Opens Public Art Depot in Rotterdam

On November 5, 2021, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands inaugurated the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam, a pioneering public art storage facility designed by MVRDV. The Depot, located next to the historic museum building in Museumpark, makes the museum's entire collection of 150,000 works accessible to visitors. It features visible storage racks, conservation labs, and three exhibition galleries, offering an unprecedented behind-the-scenes experience. The project cost €95 million, funded by the city and donations. The museum's main building is closed for renovation until 2028, leaving the Depot as the primary attraction. The Depot also provides private storage for collectors, with tax benefits, and already houses the KPN telephone company's collection. MVRDV's Winy Maas emphasized the building's mirrored facade reflects the surrounding park, compensating for the green space lost during construction. The Depot includes a rooftop restaurant by chef Jim de Jong and a birch grove. Francesco Stocchi, curator of modern and contemporary art, noted the Depot transforms curatorial practice by allowing instant access to stored works. The Nieuwe Instituut nearby hosts an exhibition on MVRDV's archive.