In this first rooftop interview, we’ll be talking to architect and founder of MVRDV Winy Maas, on top of ‘his’ brand-new Depot Boijmans van Beuningen. This publicly accessible museum depot is almost finished and will open to visitors in 2021. The unique building has a rooftop park and cafe and should be open to visitors seven days a week. Léon van Geest interviews Winy about his vision on rooftops, densification of, and bringing more green into the city, and of course about the depot itself.
Design MVRDV architects
Client Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Stichting De Verre Bergen, Gemeente Rotterdam
Opening Year 2021
Surface15.000 m2 (building) / 1500 m2 (rooftop)
Height roof 40 meter
Accessibility public accessible via separate elevator
Facilities forest, bar, exhibitions, recreation, viewpoint
Depot Boijmans van Beuningen is the first public art depot in the world that gives access to a complete collection. The collection of Museum Boijmans van Beuningen. The dynamic is different from the adjacent museum: in the depot no exhibitions are made, but you can explore the building – on your own or with a guide – and its 151.000 art objects. You can also watch conservation and restauration processes.
The rooftop of the Depot is completely publicy accessible. A special elevator brings the visitor to this beautiful green rooftop. In the forest on the rooftop, a Grand Café with terrace where visitors can enjoy the view over the city. On the rooftop, there is also a free exhibition space with a presentation about collecting, the (emergence of the) collection , the architecture of Depot Boijmans van Beuningen and how the art collection is being handled in the depot; from research to conservation and restauration.
Have you become curious about this remarkable building or rooftop? Take a look at the websites below for more extensive information.
(Sources: MVRDV, Museum Boijmans van Beuningen; Images: Ossip van Duivenbode)