Programme of Requirements Collections Building

The Programme of Requirements forms the basis of the design, whether it be a building or a kitchen appliance. It provides the designer with the basic details of the assignment. The Programme of Requirements describes in detail what the product is expected to do so that it can be used efficiently. This preliminary study will detail the functional aspects of the building components. It is an extract from the Programme of Requirements, which contains technical and legal requirements in addition to spatial needs, spatial relationships, finishes and facilities.

Entrance for art, materials and equipment

The entrance for art, materials and equipment is the building’s goods entrance. Lorries will be able to load and unload art in a fully enclosed, secure and ventilated area. The loading platform will make it possible to take goods in or bring goods out without any height differences.

Handling areas

The handling areas will be used for the transhipment, acclimatisation and packing and unpacking of works of art. Acclimatisation is necessary when extreme temperature or humidity variations in relation to the depot standards have to be compensated for. Trained staff will do the packing and unpacking using specific packing material and specially manufactured cases. It will also be possible to quarantine works of art in a separate room for a prolonged period of time.

Storage and workrooms

The storage rooms and workrooms will be general and technical areas in the Collections Building, and will include workrooms for wood- and metal-working and storage rooms for exhibition material such as glass cases and packing material.

Photography studio and registration area

In the registration area, all incoming and outgoing works of art will be registered and photographed. The registration procedure consists of the formulation of a report stating the exact condition of the work of art. When a work is lent out, the conditions in which it is expected to be kept during exhibitions are described in detail. Upon its return, the registrars check the status of the work before it is returned to a depot for storage.

Restoration and research

The restoration and research studios will feature every facility required to restore works of art of all shapes and sizes. There will also be space and facilities for research, which will be available to both internal and external researchers. Independent restorers and art historians will also be able to rent studio space and workrooms.

Offices

The offices will be for depot staff, curators and experts in the field of art collections. The offices will have conference facilities, a pantry and a copying room. The staff of the Collections Building will have specific knowledge of the collection and curation of large and small collections.

Depots at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen

The Collections Building will have separate rooms with their own climate control systems to create ideal conditions. There will, for example, be specific rooms for paintings, textiles, small objects, furniture, large objects, metals, paper and books, film and video, photography, prints and private collections. The rooms will be easily accessible, possibly through airlocks, in order to guarantee ambient conditions and the best possible care for the collection. The rooms will have all the specific furnishings required for storing the objects effectively.

Collectors’ depots

The depots for collectors will be laid out in such a way that each collector has his or her own locked room. The rooms will be easily accessible and open to the collector at all times. Every room will have fitted facilities and a special gallery for exhibiting works of art, providing collectors with the opportunity to hold exhibitions in or close to their own depot.

Technology

The level of climate control will be high enough to guarantee the quality of and climate in the rooms for the best possible storage conditions for works of art. The basic premise in this respect will be that every depot will be fitted with its own climate control system. These systems will be connected to the building control system, which will detect any system malfunction immediately. Security will make use of the latest technologies in the areas of access control, camera surveillance, object surveillance, and fire and smoke detection. In the event of an accident, the security management system will ensure that immediate and effective measures are taken.

Traffic areas and facilities

The traffic areas have been designed in such a way as to allow wheeled transport to move smoothly along corridors and in lifts. The entrances to the depots are large and as wide as the corridors. Airlock facilities have been included for specific parts of the collection such as photography and film, to ensure gradual change in climate conditions. The climate in the traffic areas will meet the same standards as in the museum.

Public entrance

The galleries and restaurant in the Collections Building will be open to the public. Collectors will also have access to the building at all times to view their collection.

Boijmans Van Beuningen Gallery

The Boijmans Gallery can be used to try out small-scale exhibitions that focus on themes in line with the major exhibitions being held in the museum and as a response to current affairs. This facility will allow curators more flexibility in their exhibition options.

Collectors’ gallery

The collectors’ gallery will give private collectors the opportunity to organise exhibitions or meetings, with their own collection as the key theme. The facilities for moving and putting up works of art will be provided by the Collections Building staff.

Restaurant

It goes without saying that the restaurant will be open to the public. It will have a well-equipped kitchen and be able to cater conferences and other gatherings. The restaurant will seat about 150 and have the ambience of a lounge and art salon.