The mirror-clad building has been designed by architectural firm MVRDV and will house a public art depot, which will be open to the public while also providing a home for works owned by private collectors.
First and foremost it is designed to provide a lasting safeguard against the flooding that the museum has been struggling with in recent years. In addition, the Collection Building it is seen as providing a way to give art back to the people of Rotterdam. Space limitations mean that the museum can currently only exhibit 8% of the collection.
The Collection Building will form the entrance to the Museum Park in Rotterdam. It will be over 39m high and will have a floor area of 15,000m2.
The transparency of the building and the arrangement of the works will also enable visitors to watch restorations and research. The first public art depot also features catering facilities, a roof terrace 35m up and surrounding greenery; the aim is that it will become a national and international public attraction.
The contract was awarded to BAM Bouw en Techniek by the Municipality of Rotterdam on behalf of Stichting Collectiegebouw.
BAM will start construction at the beginning of March. Completion is expected in 2019.
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