Twenty-five thousand square meters of historic Van Gendt Hallen have been redeveloped to house the DRIFT Museum, a purpose-built cultural facility occupying 8,000 square meters within five restored 19th-century factory halls. The project preserves industrial heritage while achieving a future-proof, energy-neutral standard. Architecture firm zU-studio, led by Javier Zubiria, translates DRIFT artists Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta's material and conceptual language into architectural form. Volumetric material compositions, contracting and expanding spaces, fluid room sequences, and dynamic visual connections create a neutral, serene environment that keeps artworks central. The scheme integrates art, technology, nature, and sustainability into a cohesive museum experience.
At the core of Amsterdam's 25,000-square-meter redevelopment of the Van Gendt Hallen stands the DRIFT Museum - a purpose-built cultural space dedicated to the Dutch art duo DRIFT. Designed by architecture firm zU-studio, the project transforms five monumental 19th-century factory halls into a dynamic destination where art, architecture, and sustainability converge. This extensive adaptive reuse initiative not only preserves a significant piece of Dutch industrial heritage but reimagines it as a future-proof, energy-neutral landmark for contemporary culture.
The DRIFT Museum occupies 8,000 square meters within the historic complex, representing the culmination of 18 years of work by artists Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta. Conceived as more than a display space, the museum translates DRIFT's artistic language into architecture, creating an environment that resonates with their vision at the intersection of art, technology, and nature. Architect Javier Zubiria, founder of Amsterdam-based firm zU-studio, describes the museum as 'a dialogue between art and architecture', emphasizing that the building itself becomes part of the experience.
The design approach draws inspiration from DRIFT's Materialism series, resulting in a volumetric composition of materials where every surface and spatial gesture reflects conceptual clarity. Spaces contract and expand to accommodate different works, while maintaining a neutral and serene atmosphere that allows art to remain the protagonist. Fluid sequences of rooms, punctuated by dynamic visual connections, invite visitors to experience art as a continuous journey rather than isolated moments.
Collection
[
|
...
]