Reopens! Royal Museum of Fine Arts completed by KAAN

03/10/2022. [Antwerp] Belgium
metalocus, DIEGO DOMÍNGUEZ GONZÁLEZ

The Netherlands-based firm KAAN Architecten has completed the renovation and extension of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium, after winning an international competition in 2003 on behalf of the country's government. The architects, with their neoclassical architecture, have sought to restore the aesthetic beauty of the 19th century to the museum from a more contemporary viewpoint, in keeping with the works on display in the museum, which span seven centuries of art.

Today the museum rises above the remains of the 16th-century citadel, intertwining with the star-shaped urban fabric. This earlier building was originally designed by architects Jacob Winders and Frans Van Dyck in the 19th century and opened to the public in 1890.

The extension designed by KAAN Architecten does not modify the original structure and is not visible from the outside to emphasize the heritage value and resistance of the outstanding 19th-century building, located in this southern district of the city, which began to transform its urban plan thanks to public investment in 2000.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Stijn Bollaert.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Stijn Bollaert.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Stijn Bollaert.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Stijn Bollaert.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Stijn Bollaert.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Stijn Bollaert.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Stijn Bollaert.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Stijn Bollaert.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Stijn Bollaert.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Stijn Bollaert.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Stijn Bollaert.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Karin Borghouts.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Mediamixer.

Site plan. Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN.

Ground floor plan. Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN.

First floor plan. Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN.

Second floor plan. Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN.

Third floor plan. Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN.

Roof plan. Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN.

Technical level plan. Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN.

Level blue cabinets plan. Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN.

Plan sequence. Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN.

Division of parts. Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN.

Section. Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN.

Facade. Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN.

Detail. Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN.

KAAN Architecten's renovation of the museum presents an interior atmosphere different from that of the old museum, while preserving its outer structure and the monumental character that characterized, and still characterizes, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts. The KMSKA (Koninklijk Museum Voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen) is now divided into three parts: a public entrance area, central exhibition spaces, and an office area at the rear of the building. The large restored oak main doors lead into the foyer, which features several museum rooms and services, including an interactive information area, a café, an auditorium, a bookshop with a coffee corner, and a circular staircase leading to the ground floor level, where a library, cloakroom and a second entrance for large groups are located.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Stijn Bollaert.

The museum tour is divided into two routes from the entrance, one, up the staircase, leads to the main floor of the renovated 19th-century museum and the other, continuing straight ahead, takes visitors to the new 21st-century museum. This division is in keeping with the works on display, with the former featuring the most recognizable art of the country and the museum's exhibition such as paintings by Rubens and Van Dyck on the dark pink, green and red walls.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Stijn Bollaert.

The other route the museum now presents, the new exhibition space provided by the renovation, is a self-contained space, built within the four original courtyards and located in the center of the museum's structure. In these bright, white exhibition rooms, daylight enters through 198 triangulated north-facing roof elements in the upper hall, which flood four large skylights measuring up to 23 meters high. These skylights are designed to guide and diffuse light, and their structure also has additional lighting to compensate for the lack of natural light. The new museum's three-dimensional, high-gloss urethane floors enhance the dazzling effect of these spaces.

The collection repository relocated to the air-raid shelter bunker, is located below the two main exhibition halls, at street level. Larger paintings, taller than the doors, can travel from the storage room through one of the original 19th-century hatches to the upper floors.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme.

Description of project by KAAN Architecten

After winning an international competition in 2003 commissioned by the Flemish Government, Dutch architecture office KAAN Architecten has worked intensively on the complex masterplan, renovation and extension of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp (Belgium), also known as KMSKA (Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen), bringing contemporary allure to a glorious, overlooked beauty of the 19th century. In addition to being one of the last examples of bold neoclassical architecture in the city of Antwerp, the museum houses a rich art collection that embraces seven centuries of art: from Flemish Primitives to expressionists, from paintings to drawings and sculptures. The Department of Culture, Youth and Media of the Flemish Government has invested approximately 100 million euros in the overall renovation of the building.

Rising above the remains of the 16th-century citadel and intertwined within the remarkable star-shaped urban fabric, the museum was originally designed in the 19th century by architects Jacob Winders and Frans Van Dyck. It opened to the public in 1890.

KMSKA was conceived as a daylight museum, where visitors would enjoy a promenade surrounded by stunning artworks as well as the external landscape, witnessed through its multiple lookouts over the city and the inner patios. During the 20th century, new developments in exhibition design and museum distribution brought fundamental changes to the building's layout, modifying the original circulation route and the connection with the city.

In the early 2000s, while KAAN Architecten started working on the museum’s masterplan, renovation and extension, the southern neighbourhood of Antwerp began to progressively gain greater value through public investments and urban transformation. One of the architects' most intrepid initiatives was to completely conceal the extension of the museum within its existing inner structure — the new addition is not visible from the outside — in order to highlight the heritage value and the resilience of the outstanding 19th-century building, nestled in this fast-changing district.

The extension co-exists with the powerful historical structure without diluting its monumental character. “Both the 21st and the 19th-century museum couldn’t be more different and more intense. They embody an emblematic contrast in dimensions, light and atmosphere while being designed as flexible spaces to welcome future exhibitions.” affirms Prof. Dikkie Scipio, architect and co-founder of KAAN Architecten.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme.

KMSKA is now divided into three realms: a public entrance area (feel), central exhibition spaces (see) and offices (work) at the rear side of the building.

From Leopold de Wael square, a grand staircase grants access to the museum: large restored oak doors open onto the entrance hall, which features several museum facilities such as an interactive information zone, a café, an auditorium, a bookshop with a coffee corner and a circular staircase to the street floor level where a library, a cloakroom and a second entrance for large groups are located.

The entrance hall leads to the majestic de Keyserzaal (named after artist Nicaise de Keyser), which serves the pivotal role of introducing the visitors to two different routes and experiences: one, going up the grand staircase, leads to the main floor of the renovated 19th-century museum; the other, continuing straight ahead, leads visitors to the new 21st-century museum.

While visiting the historical museum, guests walk through an enfilade of exhibition rooms tinted in dark pink, green and red; oak doors, tall columns and ceiling ornaments in plasterwork collectively convey a feeling of ancient grandeur. The colour palette chosen during the renovation process directly relates to the museum’s original colours. On the first floor, large windows visually connect the bright yet modest interiors with the surroundings, while on the second floor, the main halls are lit by wide glass canopies and equipped with elegant sofas for those enjoying the art masters. The impressive Rubens and Van Dyck halls will host some of the highlights of the collection and are therefore positioned at the very core of the building.

The collection depot relocated inside the original location of the air-raid shelter bunker, is located underneath the two main exhibition halls, at the street level. Extra-large paintings, taller than the high doors, can travel from the depot through one of the original 19th-century hatches to the upper floors. From this position and following a specific route, a track of slender vertical hatches can deliver the paintings to the contiguous halls.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) by KAAN. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme.

Continuing their visit through the museum, visitors approach the new 21st-century exhibition space, a completely autonomous venue, built within the four original patios and wisely unfolding at the heart of the museum’s structure. These spaces consist of bright white exhibition halls, where daylight beams in from 198 triple triangulated north-facing roof elements located on the top hall and flooding through four large lightwells, measuring up to 23 metres floor-to-ceiling. These skylights are designed to guide and diffuse the light, and their structure also features additional lighting to compensate for the seasonal loss of daylight. The three-dimensional urethane high-gloss floors of the new museum enhance the dazzling effect of these spaces. A sequence of strong vertical spatial experiences dematerializes the visitor’s experience and juxtaposes it with the historical identity of the building.

Where the new extension ‘cuts’ the museum’s solid mass, subtle marble inlays have been added, echoing the elegant 19th-century museum’s materiality. A long, impressive linear staircase connects the new exhibition halls on the first floor to those located on the top floor, also granting access to an intermediate floor, which is dedicated to displaying delicate artworks such as etchings and drawings. These dark cabinets are also visible through the four light wells and are characterized by intense dark blue. The chosen colour scheme is related to the original colour palette but uses brighter variations.

In order to allocate the necessary space for the new museum premises and its advanced technical installation, careful decisions have been taken, such as shifting the position of the original wall between the Rubens and Van Dyck halls in order to bridge the blue cabinets and the new exhibition halls above. Another remarkable feature of the renovation is the 5,5 x 9 metre pivoting wall on the first floor that can rotate to facilitate logistic flows and allow artworks or large objects to access the wide art elevator.

KAAN Architecten has created an architectural concept for KMSKA that takes the form of an enchanting journey where visitors explore the two contrasting and dialoguing museums, which unveil themselves little by little. The experience is never predictable yet always in balance: both routes are challenging and designed to serve the art.

More information

Architects

KAAN Architecten (Kees Kaan, Vincent Panhuysen, Dikkie Scipio).

Proyect team

Senior project leader.- Walter Hoogerwerf
Project team.- Valentina Bencic, Dennis Bruijn, Maicol Cardelli, Alice Colombo, Aksel Çoruh, Davis de Cos Roman, Sebastian van Damme, Paolo Faleschini, Raluca Firicel, Eva French i Gilabert, Michael Geensen, Narine Gyulkhasyan, Marco Jongmans, Martina Margini, Giuseppe Mazzaglia, Laura Ospina, Maurizio Papa, Ismael Planelles Naya, Giacomo Rizzi, Ralph van Schipper, Kim Sneyders, Koen van Tienen, Niels Vernooij, Martin Zwinggi.

Collaborators

Management.- KAAN Architecten, in collaboration with Bureau Bouwtechniek, Antwerp.
Construction advisor, structural engineering, technical installations.- Royal Haskoning DHV, Rotterdam.
Physics, fire control.- Royal Haskoning DHV, Rotterdam; Bureau Bouwtechniek, Antwerp; KAAN Architecten, Rotterdam.
Lights and acoustics.- Royal Haskoning DHV, Rotterdam; KAAN Architecten, Rotterdam.
Restoration advisor.- Architectenbureau Fritz, Eperheide; KAAN Architecten, Rotterdam.
Fixed furniture.- KAAN Architecten, Rotterdam.

Client

Primary client.- Departement Cultuur, Jeugd en Media (Vlaamse Overheid).
Mandated client.- Het Facilitair Bedrijf (Vlaamse Overheid).
User.- Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen (KMSKA).

Contractors

Phase 1.- P. Roegiers & co nv, Kruibeke.
Phase 2.- THV Artes Roegiers – Artes Woudenberg, Kruibeke / Brugge.

Budget

€ 66.000.000.

Area

30.000 sqm.

Dates

Design phase.- January 2010 – August 2022.
Construction.- December 2011 – August 2022.

Location

Leopold de Waelplaats 2, Antwerp, Belgium.

Photography

Sebastian van Damme, Karin Borghouts, Stijn Bollaert, Mediamixer.

Kees Kaan. KAAN Architecten

KAAN Architecten is a Rotterdam based architectural firm operating in a global context and merging practical and academic expertise within the fields of architecture, urbanism and research on the built environment. The studio, led by Kees Kaan, Vincent Panhuysen and Dikkie Scipio, consists of an international team of architects, landscape architects, urban planners, engineers and graphic designers. KAAN Architecten believes in cross-pollination between projects and disciplines as an essential tool to fostering a critical debate within the studio.

Since the launch of the firm, KAAN Architecten has handled and supervised a wide range of projects, actively working with the private and the public sector, with project teams that become increasingly multidisciplinary and dynamic. KAAN Architecten maintains a culture of constant evolution, which is essential in a profession that changes at a rapid pace. KAAN Architecten seeks to uphold long-term relationships with its clients, consultants and partners.

KAAN Architecten’s projects transcend the traditional notion of scale and typology, ranging from furniture and interiors to urban development and from retail and offices to museums and buildings for health and education.

Selection of completed projects:

2017, B30 – Bezuidenhoutseweg 30, The Hague (NL)!
2016, De Bank – new KAAN Architecten’s office, Rotterdam (NL)
2016, Supreme Court of the Netherlands, The Hague (NL)!
2015, Provinciehuis of North-Brabant, ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NL)
2013, Dreamhouse, Rotterdam (NL)!
2013, Education Center Erasmus MC, Rotterdam (NL)!
2010, District Water Board Brabantse Delta, Breda (NL)
!2008, Crematorium Heimolen, Sint Niklaas (BE)!
2004, Netherlands Forensic Institute, The Hague