Rijksmuseum Amsterdam - Restoration and Transformation of a National Monument - Hardcover

Van Thoor, Marie-Therese; Meurs, Paul

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 9462080941 ISBN 13: 9789462080942

Publisher: NAI Publishers, 2013

Synopsis

No building in the Netherlands has had such a defining relationship to the Dutch national identity as the Rijksmuseum. This book traces the history of this architectural landmark and artistic treasure house, from its opening in 1885 to the present day. Considered P.J.H. Cuypers' masterpiece, the Rijksmuseum had been added onto and reconfigured piecemeal over the decades. Its recently completed restoration has reestablished the original master plan while ensuring that its overhauled infrastructure takes full advantage of recent developments in museum science and modern technology--including lighting and advanced climate control, not to mention a state-of-the-art security system to protect its priceless contents. Containing hundreds of drawings and photographs, this handsome volume is the ultimate guide to the history, restoration and renewal of the Netherlands' most famous museum.

About this title

From the Back Cover

No building in the Netherlands has such a tempestuous relationship to Dutch identity as the Rijksmuseum. This book traces the history of the national Rijksmuseum project from its birth, midwifed by the architect P.J.H. Cuypers to the formulation of the restoration plan and the long road to the successful reopening in 2013.
The Rijksmuseum has been viewed - and criticised - as a national symbol ever since it was built in 1885. Its neo-Gothic architecture was deemed too Catholic, the building too large and complex. And yet the 'Rijks' proved an effective mirror and signboard for the Dutch national self-image.
In this book, a team of specialists exhaustively documents the design history of the building while taking into account the cultural, social and political environment. It explores the building's relationship to the collection, its positioning in the city and the role played by museum directors, the Chief Government Architect and the ministries, heritage conservation of!cials, the architects Cruz y Ortiz and Van Hoogevest Architecten, and the interior architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte in bringing about the most famous renovation in the Netherlands.

About this edition

• Publisher: NAI Publishers
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 9462080941
• ISBN 13: 9789462080942
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304