On 22 April the Dutch Ambassador to Spain, Cornelis van Rij, formally bestowed the title of Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion on architects Antonio Cruz y Antonio Ortiz. The distinction has been awarded by the King of the Netherlands in recognition of the outstanding work carried out by the two men in the remodelling of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Following ten years of restoration, the inauguration of the new Rijksmuseum by the then Queen Beatrix on 13 April 2013 was a major event in the art world. Since then, the new museum – and by extension the work of the two Spanish architects – has been continually acclaimed by both national and international critics and the institution has been visited by more than 2.8 million people. In the past year it has received numerous awards, including prizes for its architecture, its management and its communications.
In view of this success, the Dutch Embassy considers that “the moment has come to pay tribute to those responsible for the remodelling of the Rijksmuseum and, in so doing, make the Spanish public aware of the excellent work done by Spanish architects in Amsterdam.” Before the awarding of the distinction, a round table was held with the participation of the director of the Rijksmuseum, Wim Pijbes, former state architect Jo Coenen and Luis Fernández-Galiano, architect and editor of the journal Arquitectura Viva. The ceremony was held at 7:00 pm on 22 April at the Círculo de Bellas Artes in Madrid.
Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion
Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion is the oldest, most prestigious distinction awarded by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. Bestowed for outstanding service to Dutch society, other famous recipients include the Nobel Prize-winning author J.M. Coetzee and the conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, Mariss Jansons.
Cruz y Ortiz Arquitectos have studios in Seville and Amsterdam. Both Antonio Ortiz and Antonio Cruz have taught at a number of universities in Europe and America. In the forthcoming academic year they will be visiting lecturers at Delft University.
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Among the events planned for this tribute, today April 21 The New Rijksmuseum documentary will screen in one session. The projection (in original version with English subtitles) will take place at the Cineteca del Matadero, 17.30, Matadero, Plaza de Legazpi, 8, Madrid and will be launched by documentary filmmaker, Oeke Hoogendijk.
The film has received rave reviews following its premiere in New York and the Netherlands.
THE NEW RIJKSMUSEU. A film by Oeke Hoogendijk.
