Research Log: IT’S OUR F***ING BACKYARD

Exploring Our Backyard

An investigation of the Stedelijk’s environmentally sustainable operations

By Veronica León

Within the context of the It’s Our F***ing Backyard exhibition, the curators circulated a call for research into the on-going environmentally sustainable operations of the Stedelijk. How can the museum continue to commit itself to environmental sustainability? Over the next few months, as part of my MA studies at the Reinwardt Academy, I will map the current efforts that are being made and work towards articulating some recommendations. Here are my very first impressions, as I set out to explore.

The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam is not a bystander to what the UN is calling “the defining issue of our time” ^[1]: the climate crisis. While there is no denying the impacts of the climate crisis – sea levels rising, the Arctic melting, coral reefs dying, oceans acidifying, and forests burning – there is still reason to hope for a better future.^[2] To achieve this would require a fundamental change in our behavior.

Museums like the Stedelijk can act as platforms for discussion where such issued are raised. In addition to organizing exhibitions with work that contributes to environmental sustainability, such as (IOFB), the Stedelijk is also invested in lessening its environmental impact through operational practices.

First impressions

To help mitigate the climate crisis, it is imperative that the Stedelijk continues to act on environmental sustainability, not just with exhibitions, but also through on-going and future building operations. Since 2015, the Stedelijk has described the importance of sustainability in its annual reports.

In 2017, the Stedelijk was the second museum in the Netherlands to receive the BREEAM-NL In-Use certification, which is an internationally recognized certificate on environmental sustainability.^[3] BREEAM-NL In-Use assesses three components: the building, management, and use, of an organization. Within each of these three components, there are nine categories monitored: management, health, energy, transport, water, materials, waste, land-use and ecology, and pollution. Each category has criteria worth points towards an overall rating. While the museum had been rated “very good” in all three components, the Stedelijk strives to become even more sustainable and over the past five years since receiving the certificate, it has taken some additional important steps to this end.

For example, since the certification, the Stedelijk has been an active participant in the Zero Waste Project^[4] and has created more separate waste streams. The cardboard coffee cups, which used to be collected with the main waste, are now collected separately to be recycled into new paper products.^[5] With this program, the Stedelijk reduces waste, promotes the reuse of raw materials, and by doing so, lessens its environmental impact. Another way in which the museum encourages environmentally sustainable behavior is through its transportation policies. When an employee commutes to the office, they are reimbursed 60% of their public transportation costs or € 0,10 per kilometer for bike travel, in comparison to no reimbursement for car commuter travel and parking. The Stedelijk also participates in Het Nieuwe Werken concept, this ‘New Way of Working’, offers employees the option to work from home – which decreases emissions tied to travel.

These are simple, yet effective ways in which many organizations currently try to reduce their footprint. Over the next few months I will map the less obvious, additional ways in which the Stedelijk is reshaping its daily operations, which I will describe and reflect upon in upcoming research logs.

An example of separate waste streams in the office canteen. Photo by Veronica León, May 12, 2022.

Possible recommendations

The Stedelijk is currently investigating potential additional practices to implement. One of the categories of the BREEAM-NL In-Use certification the Stedelijk has fallen behind on is land-use and ecology. Due to the location of the building on Museumplein, Amsterdam’s inner city museum quarter, the Stedelijk does not have the room to construct and maintain green space on the ground level.

A potential recommendation would be that the Stedelijk could investigate the installation of a green roof – a layer of vegetation planted on top of a flat or slightly –sloped roof.^[6] This type of construction supports biodiversity, storm water management, air cleansing, and the improved insulation results in a reduction of energy usage and costs.^[7]^[8] The green roof will not only raise the scores for the museum in the land-use and ecology, water, pollution, and energy categories of the BREEAM-NL In-Use assessment, but most importantly, it would contribute to the goal of creating a more environmentally sustainable building.

Overhead view of the Stedelijk’s roof. Google Maps, May 12, 2022.

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About the Author

Veronica León is currently researching the environmentally sustainable operations of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Arts from the University of Houston and is completing her Master’s Degree in Applied Museum and Heritage Studies at the Reinwardt Academy. Her research interests include environmental sustainability, inclusivity, and cultural heritage.