Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Architect: Cruz y Ortiz Arquitectos.

The Rijksmuseum has undergone a renovation to house over 8.000 objects of art and history, with the original 19th century building of Cuypers being recovered in its original glory. This renovation highlights and reinforces the spatial use of the monumental building in a modern way, with the co-existence of old and new elements facing a new future in a synergetic way. The courtyards, connected by a transitory passage, give access to the collections and to multiple new uses in and around the courtyard square itself. The Rijksmuseum has made the existing Cuypers’ building fully public accessible, revealing the formerly secluded staff areas. Two small new pavilions have been added to the south side of the garden, one of which is the Asian Pavilion, which houses Asian Art that doesn’t fit in the chronological order of the Main (Dutch) Collections. The pavilion is clad with the same stone as the courtyards, and has a big window towards the Museumstraat to allow visual contact between exposed art and citizens passing by. The new Rijksmuseum openned on 13 April 2013 following a ten-year transformation. It will feature over 8,000 works of art and artefacts telling the story of 800 years of Dutch art and history, from the Middle Ages to the present day. Spanish architects Cruz y Ortiz Arquitectos of Seville have transformed the 19th century building into a museum for the 21st century, and Parisian museum designer Jean-Michel Wilmotte has designed the interior design for the galleries. The world-famous collection, including masterpieces by artists such as Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Johannes Vermeer and Rembrandt van Rijn, will be presented in chronological sequence for the first time.

Photo credit: Pedro Pegenaute.