Rijksmuseum to open new Asian Pavilion

Preparations for the Rijksmuseum's 2013 opening are in full swing. Architectural firm Cruz y Ortiz, that is responsible for the redesign of the Rijksmuseum, has created a whole new pavilion for the dazzling collection of Asian art, which includes artworks and artefacts from India, Japan, China and Indonesia.

A separate building for an autonomous collection

The Asiatic collection offers a wonderful overview of the main art movements and style developments in various cultural areas of Asia. The main component is the collection of the Vereniging van Vrienden der Aziatische Kunst (Society of Friends of Asiatic Art). This collection has been integrated into the Rijksmuseum's established collection of oriental art. Because it is an autonomous collection in its own right, Cruz and Ortiz designed a separate building to house it: the Asian Pavilion.

Zigzagging 

The Asian Pavilion is surrounded by a pond in the corner between the Philips Wing and the main building, where the Japanese garden used to be, and is accessible from the entrance square. The building has a 'zigzagging' look to it. This is the main feature of Cruz' and Ortiz' designs and is also reflected in the completed Information Centre in Jan Luijkenstraat. The two floors of the Asian Pavilion are partly aboveground and partly underground.

Glass facade

On the east side, a glass facade on the ground floor allows part of the collection to be seen from outside, visually strengthening the link with the main building. The opposite façade is made mainly of glass, too. The Asian Pavilion will be clad with the same greyish-yellow natural stone used for the new Study Centre.