MVRDV's tree-topped depot boijmans van beuningen nears completion in rotterdam

update 06/15/2020: the construction of MVRDV‘s ‘depot boijmans van beuningen’ in rotterdam is almost complete. from september 25 – 27, 2020, the art depot will open its doors to the public for the first time, allowing people to explore the mirrored-glass clad building and forest-topped roof garden for one weekend before the collection of artwork from boijmans van beuningen museum is moved over. once fully furnished and functioning, the new cylindrical landmark is set to open in autumn 2021.

MVRDV has installed the first of 75 trees on the roof garden of its ‘depot boijmans van beuningen’, the first publicly accessible art depot in the world. the project, which topped out late last year, is located in the dutch city of rotterdam. during the next two weeks, the collection of large birches will be lifted over 100 feet (30 meters) and planted on the roof. the trees will become part of a green forest surrounding a restaurant and framing views across the city. the soft birch selected by the design team grows to a height of about 30 feet (10 meters) and is highly resistant to the region’s weather conditions.

image by ossip van duivenbode

depot boijmans van beuningen’s rooftop forest was designed by MVRDV together with MTD landschapsarchitecten. the selected trees are currently between ten and fifteen years old, having spent the past three years being prepared at the ebben tree nursery. a special watering system ensures that the soil in which they are being planted will never dry out. aftercare is provided by a specialized arborist who regularly monitors the trees for vitality, health, and moisture. how long the tree continues to live depends on various factors such as weather influences, but it is expected that the vast majority of these strong pioneer trees — which need little to survive — will remain standing for several decades.

image by arjen ketting

winy maas, MVRDV founding partner and principle in charge of depot boijmans van beuningen comments: ‘when yves brunier designed the museumpark with OMA, I helped with the selection of the old trees. now that the birches are being placed on the roof of the depot, the circle is complete; we are taking the park we removed to the top of the depot and enlarging it. soon, people will be able to take the express lift up, free of charge, and enjoy a spectacular view of the city at a height of 34 meters.’

image by fred ernst

image by arjen ketting

image by fred ernst

image by winy maas

image by ossip van duivenbode

image © MVRDV

project info:

project title: depot boijmans van beuningen

architecture: MVRDV

landscape: MTD landschapsarchitecten

location: rotterdam, netherlands

principal in charge: winy maas

partner: fokke moerel

project team: sanne van der burg with arjen ketting, gerard heerink, jason slabbynck and jan knikker

competition team: sanne van der burg and marta pozo gil with gerard heerink, elien deceuninck, saimon gomez idiakez, nacho velasco, jason slabbynck, mariya gyaurova and lukasz brzozowski.

visualization: antonio luca coco, matteo artico, and carlo cattó

contractor: BAM

structure: IMd raadgevend ingenieurs

cost engineering: BBN

installations: RHDHV

façade consultants: ABT

building physics: peutz

sustainability: BREEAM excellent (goal)