Kunsthal Rotterdam

At Kunsthal Cafe, taste and simplicity take centre stage. Rotterdam-based chef and food curator Perry de Man, known for, among other things, 24Kitchen, developed the menu together with the Kunsthal Cafe team, using locally sourced products.

Culture enthusiasts, visitors to Museumpark, and people who live or work in the area can visit Kunsthal during opening hours for coffee, sweet treats, lunch dishes and snacks. In the renewed concept, there is also more attention to the drinks and socialising moment, with a selection of wines by the glass and a small menu of (virgin) cocktails.

Van Oosterom Studio

The design starts from the original architecture by Rem Koolhaas / OMA of Kunsthal Rotterdam, which opened in 1992. The concrete structures and the ceiling featuring Günther Förg’s neon artwork have been restored, revealing once again the beauty of the space with its strong, open cross-section. The new counter combines reception and shop and contributes to a more natural flow of visitors.

The renewed Kunsthal Cafe forms its own zone within the open space. Modular screens create intimacy, improve the acoustics in the cafe and at the same time form a visual backdrop for the entrance. For the interior, Van Oosterom Studio designed custom-made furniture, including stainless-steel grid structures, benches and tables that connect with the original architecture. In the cafe dark green mohair benches and large marble tables create an intimate atmosphere. The marble tabletops have been hand-inked in various bright colours, making colour and pattern part of the material. At the bar, high tables with enamelled tops are combined with adapted OMK bar stools. A polished steel wall behind the bar reflects both the neon artwork and the greenery of Museumpark. A bright green floor connects the different zones and strengthens the relationship between the interior and exterior. The terrace has also been renewed and connects more naturally with the interior and the surrounding Museumpark.

Flexibility is an important principle in the ever-transforming Kunsthal. Folding tables, modular counters and movable elements make it possible to easily adapt the cafe and entrance area to different functions, from daily visits to events such as Kunsthal LIVE.

Exhibition A Chair and You

The beauty and power of strong design are central to the new interior of Kunsthal Cafe and also feature in A Chair and You, in which chairs are presented as you have never seen them before. In the exhibition, these everyday objects become the stars of a theatrical presentation. This autumn, Kunsthal Rotterdam presents a major overview based on one of the world’s most important private collections of chairs, brought together by collector Thierry Barbier-Mueller and staged by Robert Wilson. This total installation offers a sensory experience and gives the chair a meaningful, performative power.