Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen and the municipality of Rotterdam have selected three architectural firms that will continue to develop their ideas on how to shape the ambitious renovation of the museum in the coming months. The finalists are Mecanoo, KAAN architects with Van Hoogevest architects, and David Chipperfield Architects with WDJ Architecten. The European tender for architect selection was published in May 2019 and the mentioned offices are now entering a so-called dialogue phase.
An assessment committee of experts in the field of restoration, renovation and museum environments has unanimously chosen these three architects/combinations on the basis of selection criteria. The committee consists of Chief Government Architect Floris Alkemade, architect André van Stigt, former Director of the Cultural Heritage Agency Cees van 't Veen, director of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen and experts from the municipality of Rotterdam. The municipality and the museum are delighted to enter the next phase with these architects.
Mission and dialogue
The assignment is to create a proposal for the renovation, restoration and enhanced sustainability of the existing building and the associated outdoor space. The task is therefore not to design an entirely new building but to realize a high-quality restoration and renovation of the museum complex. The starting point here is that the existing monumental values are restored to their former glory. The selected offices will be in talks with the museum and the municipality in the coming months. The interview is intended to provide mutual clarity about the renovation with the award phase starting after this dialogue phase. The three architects/combinations will provide a detailed offer based on the information they have gained during the dialogue phase, their offer is then assessed by the same assessment committee. The members of the committee jointly decide on one winning architect. This definitive choice for an architect is expected in January 2020.
The museum has since closed its doors to the public and preparations are now being made to make the museum building asbestos-free. Mid-2020 the municipality will decide on the extent to which the museum will be renovated.
Read the original press release at the Gemeente Rotterdam official site (NL).
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