Page 290 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

288  NOR THERN AND EASTERN NE THERLANDS

Groninger Museum

Between the central station and the
inner city lies the Groninger Museum,
standing on an island in the 19th-
century Verbindingskanaal. Designed
by internationally renowned Italian
architect Alessandro Mendini and
opened in 1994, the museum showcases
archaeology and history, applied arts
(including a remarkable collection of
Chinese and Japanese porcelain), early . Spiral Staircase
art and cutting-edge modern art. The spiral staircase, which visitors have to
descend to see the exhibits, is the museum’s
main meeting point and a work of art in itself.

Curtains
The applied arts section,
which includes oriental
porcelain, is divided by
winding curtains.

The museum shop
sells reproductions of
the exhibits and books
about the artists who
are represented in
the museum.

KEY
1 The museum café features is also a direct connection with 5 This wing of the museum
furniture by various designers the station and the town centre. was designed by Wolfgang Prix
and was set up as an addition 3 Temporary exhibitions and Helmut Swiczinsky.
to the museum collection. 6 A large concrete staircase
4 The Mendini Pavilion is easily in the spectacular Mendini
2 A cycle and pedestrian distinguished by its apparent Pavilion leads to the upper
bridge connects the museum haphazardness and chaos, and is a pavilion, where some of the
with the station square. There good example of deconstructivism. collection of art is on display.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p399 and pp412–13

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