'The depot takes us back to the roots of the museum, which owes its foundation to the passion of private collectors.'
Ina Klaassen, business manager Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.
'Backstage becomes frontstage'
Interview with Ina Klaassen, Business Manager Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.
‘The depot will give visitors the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes of the museum,’ says Ina Klaassen. As the museum's business manager, she is involved in a great many projects in the museum. She explains that together with Director Sjarel Ex she directs the development of the depot. Klaassen also shares responsibility for the planned refurbishment of the present museum building and the temporary accommodation needed during the closure of the museum.
Sounds like a high-pressure job…
I’ve got the best job in Rotterdam! I really mean it. Being one of the people with a hand on the museum’s tiller is very special in its own right. The addition of intensive involvement in the creation of a new building and refurbishment of the old one makes the job unique. How many opportunities do you get in life to work on such exceptional projects at one and the same time?
What makes the depot so unique for you?
The depot takes us back to the roots of the museum, which owes its foundation to the passion of private collectors. On the basis of these origins we’re developing a new ‘museum typology’ with the depot. In it we show all the facets of ‘collecting’ in a fascinating way. Private individuals can also store their collections in the depot.
What are this project’s greatest challenges?
There are several. Firstly, being a museum, we have relatively limited experience with this type of gigantic construction project. It’s not our core business. Meanwhile the museum operates as normal. We have to do this whole project in addition, at the same time as preparing for refurbishment of the museum building. Secondly, nowhere else in the world has a collection on this scale been made accessible to the general public. There are no references we can learn from. Lastly, our organization will soon be completely transparent. Activities that our staff presently carry out behind the scenes – such as conserving an artwork or packing an object for transport – will be done in public. Visitors will be looking over their shoulders. Backstage becomes frontstage.
What appeals to you about the design by MVRDV architects?
The depot is a statement about the future of the museum, so the shape of the building can also be a statement. I’m very curious about the reflective exterior, which I’m sure will soon be the greatest selfie hotspot in Rotterdam. Once you’re inside the building the atrium, containing huge display cases, has a great deal to offer. I’m also very enthusiastic about the roof garden. A small public park has been lifted, so to speak, up to the building’s highest storey.
Is the depot also a realization of the museum’s aspiration level?
It’s the beginning of it. The depot is a statement of how we see the future of this museum, but I don’t think it’ll be complete until the refurbishment of the museum building is also behind us. Together they represent the aspiration level.
Refurbishment of the museum
Museum staff are currently working out two scenarios. In the first, only asbestos remediation will be carried out in the museum building so that it complies once more with legislation and regulations. In the second scenario, two landmark parts of the museum building – the wings designed by architects Adrianus van der Steur (dating from 1935) and Alexander Bodon (built in 1972) – will be restored.
Why does the museum building have to be refurbished?
The building is at the end of its technical service life. The aim is to start emptying it next year. This will be followed by asbestos remediation. Finally, there will be large-scale refurbishment of the entire museum building.
How long will the museum be closed?
That depends on which refurbishment scenario is selected. Based on an ambitious scenario, the museum will not be able to plan anything in the building for at least seven years.
What are the plans for the temporary accommodation of the museum?
Working with the City Council, we’re looking for an alternative location for showing our collection. We’re considering the former V&D department store in the Zuidplein shopping centre in South Rotterdam. We want to develop new bonds with the general public of the future, which is young and diverse, as well as schools and artists. We’d like the museum to demonstrate our social commitment, and contribute to the urban and economic development of this southern part of Rotterdam. To enable the move to South Rotterdam, we’re trying to build an alliance with investors who want to undertake this venture with us.
Update June 2019: In the past year, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen investigated the possibilities of opening a venue of the museum in Rotterdam South. This was not successful. The museum is also working on new plans at existing locations and events and in 2021 will bring the entire collection together in the publicly accessible Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen.
Depot Journal
This article has been published before in Depot Journal #2 which is part of a series of six. If you would like to receive all the printed Depot journals by post, please send an email to info@boijmans.nl with your full name and address, reference ‘receive Depot Journals’.