MVRDV showcases a behind-the-scenes look into the company’s archive and creative process
Hosted on the top floor of the Het Nieuwe Institute in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, the exhibition “MVRDVHNI: The Living Archive” explores 30 years of MVRDV’s work, examining the design philosophy of each project and future visions. The gallery, located next to the company’s latest project, Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, highlights the creative process behind each project, how it was developed, and the challenges of preserving its materials and approaches for future generations.
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The MVRDVHNI Gallery reveals an archive of not only projects, but models, photos, drawings, drawings and material samples that were delivered to clients prior to construction. The projects presented are divided into three themes:Human“MVRDV, which describes MVRDV’s socially conscious and people-centered designs,”Green color, which talks about its sustainable goals, anddream‘, which includes MVRDV’s ambition for bold and inspiring architecture.
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Having been established in 1993, the company was among the first generations to create a mostly digital archive. Traditional methods of making the collection accessible have not been successful, so innovative tools have been created to increase archive disclosure. This led to the creation of ProjectScape, a digital program created specifically for the MVRDV NEXT studio, which allows visitors to explore projects according to their “lines of inquiry”. Additionally, software by Namelok is designed to analyze the people in the photos by MVRDV, and a search engine by Giacomo Nanni & Francesca Morini allows visitors to look at the thousands of emails sent to the company when a word like “sustainability” is mentioned.
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When asked about the meaning of the first 400 projects of this one-man exhibition showcasing the MVRDV archives, we were reluctant to declare these projects historic. This is because they are still alive in our daily practice. From early projects to projects that envision the future in the year 2300 and beyond, there are ideas, philosophies, patterns, and elements constantly emerging. Therefore, it became important for the exhibition to explain the present and future of these first projects, not as artifacts, but as living ideas. – Jan Knicker, partner of MVRDV
The exhibition itself is also involved in the three themes, particularly the “green” one as it will be furnished with used furniture, and after the exhibition is over, it will be reused to produce minimal waste. The exhibition is currently open to the public and will remain on display until September 4, 2022.
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