The new Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Cruz y Ortiz

The Rijksmuseum, designed at the end of the XIX century by the Dutch architect Pieter Cuypers, paid too high a price for its urban role as the Great Gate into Amsterdam’s southern development area. An underpass divides the building in two from North to South, forcing it to have two entrances, two main staircases and making that the east and west areas of the ground floor and basement are connected only in the main floor.
The proposal tries to correct these problems by making the access to the building coincide with the public underpass (keeping the free riding of bicycles) and by endowing both courtyards with unity and continuity, changing the ways of accessing the building and atlas, allowing a greater and more up to date functioning of the Museum.
An open staircase at the entrance of the underpass will lead the visitor to a great central hall under the street level, which will connect the east and west wings of the building. This big new space will hold the general information points, the Museum shop, restaurant and tickets booths.

Cruz y Ortiz 

Video: TvArquitectura.com