Cruz y Ortiz, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

In 2001 the Dutch government entrusted the Spanish architecture studio Cruz y Ortiz with the design for adapting the monumental building that has housed theRijksmuseumsince 1895. The restoration of the building was then carried out by Van Hoogevest Architecten and the interior design of the exhibition rooms by the French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte.
The task assigned to the Cruz y Ortiz studio, following an international competition, involved creating new spaces, adapting the structure to modern requirements for preserving the works and for climatic protection. This work had to be carried out while respecting the original building designed by Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers (1827-1921).

Amongst the new spaces designed by architects Cruz y Ortiz the most important is certainly the new entrance, called the Atrium. This is an extremely complex work that allowed the two inner courtyards to be connected, obtaining a space of over 2000 m2 that is bright and accessible to all visitors.

(Agnese Bifulco)

Design: Cruz y Ortiz
Renovation project: Van Hoogevest Architecten
Interior design: Jean-Michel Wilmotte
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Images: courtesy of Rijksmuseum © Iwan Baan, © John Lewis Marshall

www.rijksmuseum.nl