Our structural engineering and lighting design helped the renovation of the Stedelijk Museum, a museum for modern art, contemporary art, and design located in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The aim of the lighting design was to maintain maximum possible natural light in the museum given the constraints of art conservation. Arup advised on the daylight protection and the electrical light design, bringing the museum into the 21st Century.

As structural engineers, we were instrumental in creating a triumphant combination of old and new. The modern, bathtub-shaped extension is supported by five columns and a concrete wall, but the majestic original building is visible through the ground floor glass facade. To complement the exterior, we designed the lighting to maximise daylight without damaging the artwork on display. It's a good example of how art is inside - and outside. 

Restoring the original character 

The starting point for the restoration was to show the character of the original building, a neo-Renaissance design by architect AW Weismann. The building is famous for its majestic staircase, grand rooms and natural light. 

The renovation involved removing some of the floors that had been added to the building and creating new connections between the exhibition spaces. Our lighting design brought as much natural light into these spaces as possible, within the constraints of art conservation.

Floating superstructure 

Designed by Benthem Crouwel Architects, the museum extension consists of a basement with a solid superstructure lifted above. This structure appears to float above the ground level, with the old building visible through the glazed ground floor.  

This transparent ground floor houses an information centre, a library, a shop and a restaurant with a terrace. It is also the new entrance to the museum.  

Above this, the new superstructure has two levels - a large exhibition space and auditorium on the lower level and offices above. 

Six points of support 

Large steel trusses in the facade allow the bathtub-shaped superstructure to be supported by only six points of support: five columns and a concrete wall. This made it possible to create a large open space for exhibitions.  

Arup and Benthem Crouwel worked together to optimise the structure, defining details such as the location of the support points and the trusses. 

The reopening of the Stedelijk Museum repositions it as a leading arts institute, highlighting Amsterdam as a center of artistic renewal and revitalizing Museum Square.

Ann Goldstein

Director of the Stedelijk Museum

Lighting an empty Stedelijk museum space

We advised on the daylight protection and the electrical light design, bringing the museum into the 21st Century © Benthem Crouwel Architects

Stedelijk Museum hallway and staircase

The building is famous for its majestic staircase, grand rooms and natural light © Benthem Crouwel Architects

New entrance to the Stedelijk Museum

The new entrance hall to the Stedelijk Museum © John Lewis Marshall

Stedelijk Museum interior

Our structural engineers played a key role in blending old and new © Benthem Crouwel Architects

Partners & collaborators

Benthem Crouwel Architects