
How do you create a sustainable expansion of a museum?

Utrecht

University Museum

The original building from 1996 was designed by Koen van Velsen and was intended to serve 25,000 visitors per year. In 2021, with 80,000 visitors, it has reached its physical limitations. The goal was therefore to expand the museum with more facilities and exhibition space, plus a better connection between the museum, the street and the botanical garden behind it.
Strategic interventions ensure sustainable growth




1 A composed building
2 Improve the connection
3 Respecting balance within ensemble

The exhibition area has been increased by transforming the former office wing to the rear. The museum rooms on the ground floor facing the street have been converted into a larger reception area. This has created more space for facilities such as the reception, cloakroom and museum shop. The ground floor has been made more open to the street and the botanical garden. A limited extension has been realized at the pivot point between the two museum wings, so that an optimal link is created, as well as a clearer museum routing between the main volumes.

University Museum Utrecht
Utrecht University Museum manages the university’s academic heritage. The museum highlights the importance of science: visitors can see and experience its history. The original building from 1996 was designed by Koen van Velsen and was intended to serve 25,000 visitors per year. In 2021, with 80,000 visitors, it has reached its physical limitations. The goal was therefore to expand the museum with more facilities and exhibition space, plus a better connection between the museum, the street and the botanical garden behind it. The exhibition area has been increased by transforming the former office wing to the rear. The museum rooms on the ground floor facing the street have been converted into a larger reception area. This has created more space for facilities such as the reception, cloakroom and museum shop. The ground floor has been made more open to the street and the botanical garden. A limited extension has been realized at the pivot point between the two museum wings, so that an optimal link is created, as well as a clearer museum routing between the main volumes. The extension was designed as a contemporary layer on the garden side of the building, making the museum ready for sustainable growth in the future through strategic interventions.
details
- Project
- University Museum Utrecht
- Location
- Utrecht, NL
- Size
- 3.695 m²
- Period
- 2016-2019
- Client
- Universiteit Utrecht
- Discipline
- Architecture
- Program
- Culture, Education
- Status
- Development Phase
- More info
- bd@dezwartehond.nl