The extensive renovation and expansion by Belgian architects Stéphane Beel and
Lieven Achtergael, as well as the Utrecht architect Peter Versseput, have provided
the museum with a considerable amount of greatly improved exhibition space.
Particularly noteworthy innovations include the transparent entrance building on the
Nicolaaskerkhof, the lifts, making the museum easily accesible to everyone, the
children's museum (Kids Centraal), the project rooms and the Rietveld Wing on the
other side of Agnietenstraat.
Beginning November 28th, the highlights of the museum collection, including Rietveld,
Jan van Scorel, the Utrechtse Caravaggists, Pyke Koch, Droog Design and Viktor &
Rolf, will be on permanent view. An exhibition centred on the history of the city of
Utrecht will also be presented. The museum will also reopen with a documentary
exhibition in 'Collectie Centraal', the new information centre, on the artist, literary
figure and Utrecht political activist, Erich Wichman.
Not only the familiar museum collection will be on view for the reopening, but also the
new acquisitions made in the last 18 months. Thirty new acquisitions will be
presented in the field of contemporary apparel design, including 20 by Dutch
designers now being recognized on the international fashion scene:
Alexander van
Slobbe, Viktor & Rolf, Niels Klavers and Keupr/van Bentm.
There is certainly new acquisitions on contemporary art and design to be seen. The
museum has commissioned work from, or has worked together with:
Atelier van Lieshout: toilet
Marieke van Diemen: showcase arrangements, consultations and redesign for the
Mediaeval Chapel
Richard Hutten: bookstore and restaurant design
Maxine Kennedy: website (www.centraalmuseum.nl)
Krijn de Koning: permanent installation in the Rietveld Wing, consultations for
redesign museum and the Rietveld Wing
Krijn de Koning in colaboration with Concrete Architects: design of the Van Baaren
Room
Sef Peeters: 'scream room'
Gerard Polhuis: garden gate
Pipilotti Rist: installation
Marlies Rohmer: design 'Collectie Centraal'
Christopher Seyferth: design, 'Kids Centraal'
Peter Struycken: colour scheme Rietveld Wing
Tejo Remy: Information Centre Rietveld's Schröder House
Viktor & Rolf: apparel design for museum hosts & hostesses
Martin Visser: museum benches
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