The southside of the NAI building

The Netherlands Architecture Institute (NAI) is more than a museum of architecture. It is above all a cultural institute which is open to the public and which uses a variety of methods for communicating about the shaping of human space.

NAi Rotterdam
The NAI moved into its current premises in 1993. The striking building is situated at the edge of the Museumpark in the center of Rotterdam and was designed by Jo Coenen.The NAI stores important architecture archives and collections, and makes them accessible to the public. The institute offers facilities for research and a platform for discussion. The NAI presents exhibitions, lectures, debates and issues publications which aim to inform, inspire, and stimulate both professionals and the general public.

> Visitor's information

Collection: Archives and Library
The NAI has one of the largest architecture collections in the world; eighteen kilometres of shelves containing drawings, sketches, models, photographs, books, journals and other materials. The NAI is entrusted with the safekeeping and management of these archives and collections and with making them accessible to the public. Virtually every prominent Dutch architect since 1800 is represented in the archives, which include the personal archives of such famous architects as Dudok, Cuypers, Berlage and De Klerk.

The NAI's library is open to the public and contains over 35,000 books on architecture and related disciplines, plus an extensive range of Dutch and international architectural journals.Researchers, students, and anyone else interested may consult publications and archives in the reading room.

> More about the collection
> More about the library

Exhibitions and Symposiums
The NAI presents architecture, urban design, interior design and landscape architecture in more than twenty exhibitions it organizes every year. It also devotes a great deal of attention to developments in industrial and graphic design and other aspects of the designed environment. The NAI's large collection often provides content for the exhibitions. The permanent exhibition "Living in the Lowlands" reveals the collection's wealth of drawings, models and photographs. The highlights of this national treasure paint a picture of domestic life in the Netherlands over the last 150 years.

The NAI follows both national and international developments. Modern-day architecture from around the world is shown in changing exhibitions. Renzo Piano, Bernard Tschumi, Daniel Libeskind, Alvar Aalto, Yona Friedman, Itsuko Hasegawa, studio Asymptote (Hani Rashid and Lise Anne Couture), Rem Koolhaas and Herzog & de Meuron are some of the architects who have been at the focus of exhibitions. The NAI offers a lively and varied program. Besides reflecting the Institute's position towards current events, the program addresses contemporary issues such as "The design of the Netherlands" and "Sustainable building".

The NAI stimulates architectural debate by organizing lectures, symposiums, study trips and other events. These projects are intended to provides the professional audience with specialized information. They are often linked to other of the NAI activities such as exhibitions and publications. The NAI also offers room to projects initiated by third parties.

> NAI calendar

Guided Tours
During the guided tour "Behind the Scenes" that the NAI offers, the focus is on the unique architecture of its building, designed by Jo Coenen. The tours also take visitors to the NAI's depot. Besides that the NAI organizes group tours through the exhibitions, for adults, children and students.

> More about guided tours

Foreign Visitors
Foreign visitors often use the NAI as a starting point for architecture trips in and around the Netherlands. For this purpose, the NAI offers lectures, tours etc. for foreign visitors.

> See also: NAI International

Publications
As a study center, the NAI generates many kinds of publication. NAI Publishers is an independent publishing house affiliated with the NAI. Some of its publications, such as exhibition catalogues, are linked to ongoing NAI activities. NAI Publishers also produces publications on its own initiative and for third parties. It runs a specialized bookshop (NAI Booksellers) in the NAI lobby.

The Netherlands Architecture Insititute's Architecture Bulletin appears twice annually with views on the past, present and future of the built environment. The bulletin consists of essays in text and in image form - personal arguments and subjective reflections on architecture, on what does and doesn't happen and how people think about that. In short, they are essays on the significance architecture can have.

> NAI Publishers
> NAI Booksellers

Education
Throughout the year, the NAI organizes activities for children and teenagers. The program for primary and secondary schools includes workshops, tours and specific assignments connected to the ongoing exhibitions. A room in the NAI building is reserved for pupils completing school-related assignments and for exhibitions of the resulting models and drawings.

> More about Education

Facilities
The NAI foyer has a museum café with a terrace by the reflecting pond. Admission to the café is free. The foyer, the auditorium (K.P.C. de Bazel Room) and the conference room (J.B. Bakema Room) can be rented by individuals, companies, and institutions. The NAI offers guided tours of the exhibitions and the building, with catering if desired.

> More about rental

Friends of the NAI
The object of the Friends of the NAI is to generate interest in the NAI's activities. The association organizes excursions, lectures, and other activities for its members, and recruits sponsors for special projects.

> More about the Friends

Partners, Structural Sponsors & Sponsors
In order to realize its goals the NAI relies upon financial support from the government, grant-giving bodies and the business community. The NAI is supported by partnerships, structural sponsorship and sponsorship for activities. Partnerships and structural sponsorships are relationships lasting a number of years. Sponsorships for activities are one-off sponsorships for individual projects or events. By affiliating to the world's largest architecture museum, the NAI's partners and sponsors demonstrate their social commitment and afford themselves entry to the world of national and international architecture.

Partners

The NAI has approximately 100 members of staff, spread over several departments. The following is a description of the organisational structure and an indication of the most important contacts. > Read more...