KMSKA 29123 569 A7173 4751

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp

Together with Kaan Architecten, we were behind the master plan for the renovation of the 'most beautiful museum in Flanders'.
Winner European Award for Architectural Heritage Intervention and International Architecture Award 2022
  • Architect: Kaan Architecten i.c.w. Bureau Bouwtechniek

  • Client: Department of Culture, Youth, Sport and Media, Infrastructure Department, Cultural Infrastructure Fund (FoCI)

  • Surface: 26.500 m²

  • Timing: 2004 - 2020

  • Status: Executed

  • Photographer: Sarah Blee

  • Advisors: Royal Haskoning DHV (techniques, stability), Architectenbureau Fritz (restoration)

To adapt, restore and upgrade the listed museum building of the late 19th century, located in the centre of a 19th century city quarter 'Het Zuid' into a museum building that meets the contemporary needs of museum management.

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Phase 1 (completed in 2014)

  • renovation, demolition, asbestos remediation, repairs and creation of an internal depot

Phase 2 (completed in 2020)

  • renovation of the 19th-century museum
  • extension of the building with new museum rooms within the perimeter of the existing building
After winning an international competition in 2003 commissioned by the Flemish Government, Dutch architecture office KAAN Architecten in collaboration with Bureau Bouwtechniek has worked intensively on the complex masterplan, renovation and extension of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp (Belgium), bringing contemporary allure to a glorious, overlooked beauty of the 19th century.
Divisare
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Verticaal museum

The major challenge in this project was to incorporate a new contemporary museum without losing the 19th-century concept. The extension, the so-called vertical museum, was slid into the building's old patios. A successful fusion of two completely different museum worlds, giving the museum a modest yet spectacular new impetus.

As executive architects, we help the designing architects with all technical and financial issues, so that they can fully focus on the design. We also monitor the implementation and ensure that the objectives and plan are always crystal clear for all partners, so that together we can make our dreams come true.

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Roof domes

198 triangular symmetrical skylights were installed on the roof of the museum, reflecting the northern light along the white walls down to the ground floor, providing daylight to the entire new building.

Renovation of facade and offices

In 2018, it was decided to include renovation of the façade and offices, as well as landscaping, in the master plan.

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We are EPB reporter of the entire project and were appointed by the client as safety coordinator of both the renovation and new construction and all sub-projects, including the scenography and gold decoration.

Meet our team of specialists

From Team Architecture (public sector Flanders) (3)

Babs

arch. Barbara Arts

Project architect
Safety coordinator
E-mail |
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ir. arch. Nadja Van Houten

Director
Administrator
E-mail |
Bert 569 A0759 Gemiddeld

arch. Bert Van den Bergh

Project architect
Advisor renovation & restoration
E-mail |

From Team Sustainability, Energy & Comfort (1)

BB Robbe oct2014

ir. arch. Robbe Verelst

Energy and sustainability advisor
Building physics engineer
E-mail |

From Team Safety (2)

Babs

arch. Barbara Arts

Project architect
Safety coordinator
E-mail |
B B Ken Koolsaet 7293 Large

Ken Coolsaet

Advisor flat roofs
Safety coordinator
E-mail |

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TAGS: EPB| Heritage