The mirrored façade of Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, the first publicly accessible art depot in the world, is complete. Today the final glass panel has been installed, finishing the exterior surfaces of the striking building in Rotterdam's Museumpark. Construction continues inside the building, after which the museum's collection (more than 151,000 works of art) is moved to the new facility and the glass doors will open in the autumn of 2021.

The depot facade, consisting of 6,609 square metres of mirrored glass, divided over 1,664 panels, reflects its surroundings, from passers-by and clouded skies to the leafy Museum Park and the dynamic skyline of Rotterdam. Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen makes this part of the city more lively and at the same time establishes a strong relationship with the park and the buildings in the neighbourhood.

Bas Kurvers, Rotterdam alderman for Building, Housing, and Energy Transition in the Built Environment: "The depot is already a popular and photogenic building. With the placement of the last glass panel on the wall, we complete the construction of the outside. I am looking forward to the moment that next autumn when everyone will be able to see the completed construction on the inside with a spectacular entrance, art showcases, depots, a restaurant on the roof, and of course all of the 151,000 art pieces". 

Sjarel Ex, director of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen: "With the completion of the façade we are one step closer to the opening of the art depot. After years of waiting and talking, Rotterdam has received its gift; a building that deserves the city's art collection".

Winy Maas, founding partner of MVRDV: "With these last panels, the depot façade is really finished and you can clearly see the impact the building has on the city. I think it's great to see how the depot façade reflects Rotterdam’s skyline, the cloudy skies and soon the new, even more greenified Museumpark. It feels like a living painting, with different accents and colours at any time of the day so it never gets boring".

Eric Moleman, director of BAM Bouw en Techniek - Large Projects: "BAM Bouw en Techniek was commissioned by the Municipality of Rotterdam to realize this icon together with all partners, consultants and MVRDV. The installation of the final panel and the closing of the round facade symbolizes BAM's completion of this prestigious project. Building the present, creating the future.

Roeland Burgers, Sorba façade engineering: "The spectacular design raised inevitable construction issues; after all, such a spherical mirror facade has never been built before. From double-curved glass panels for which there was no standard yet, to doors that disappear into the facade when closed. It was the perfect challenge for Sorba. I'm proud that we participated in this".

Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen is a collaboration between Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, the Municipality of Rotterdam and the De Verre Bergen Foundation. The depot was designed by MVRDV and constructed by BAM Bouw en Techniek. In the autumn of 2021 the depot will open its doors to the public and visitors will be immersed in the world behind the scenes of a museum.

Top image, L-R: Sjarel Ex, director Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen; Bas Kurvers, Rotterdam alderman; Fokke Moerel, Partner MVRDV; Roelof Prins, De Verre Bergen Foundation. Image © Aad Hoogendoorn.