Netherlands Architecture Institute

The NAi Nederlands Architecture Institute in Rotterdam (the Netherlands ) is the largest architecture center in the world. It is the central location in the Netherlands for all aspects of architecture. Since 1993, it is housed in a new building designed by Jo Coenen at Museum Park, Rotterdam.

Tasks and collections

An important task is to archive Dutch architecture. In a 200 m long archive building an impressive collection is housed, which includes 18 km shelves with drawings and models of historical and contemporary architecture in the Netherlands.

The library is open to the public and has 35,000 books and 170 periodicals. The emphasis is on the 19th and 20th centuries. The NAi is also its own trade publications out, represent the collection and exhibition content and support publications of Dutch architects.

A permanent exhibition shows the visitor in the classical manner on the basis of outstanding examples of the chronology of the Dutch architectural style of the last centuries. Models, photographs, drawings and short texts illustrate this architecture history exhibition. In addition, a variety of temporary exhibitions are organized. Contemporary themes and exhibitions that focus on specific architects, attract many visitors especially. But there are also smaller exhibitions, which show, for example dissertations by students.

The House Sonneveld is a villa of 1933 in the style of modern architecture and is in close proximity to the NAi. It is used as a visual object and serves as a 1:1 model to show visitors how an architectural concept (" light, air and space " ) his reaction takes place in a building.

Also the adjacent Museum Park with the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, the Chabot Museum (1938, New Objectivity ) and the Kunsthalle (1992 ) by Rem Koolhaas is involved in visitor guides so that the exploration of architecture is not limited to the contents of the museum but in the context of the environment is provided.

There is a separate program for the approximately 1,500 children and young people who visit the NAi monthly. The groups are led through the house and they are brought close to basic concepts of architecture in a child-friendly manner. The guides are very loose, it's not so much a matter of transporting content, the aim is rather to increase the sensitivity of children and provide them with personal points of contact. After the tour, the children are active in a workshop and even create own models. For this program soon, a separate wing to be fitted.

The forum of the NAi, a lecture hall work lectures, readings and symposia for professionals and laymen take place. The offer is rounded off by a cafe and a bookshop.