Convents are revived as kindergartens, and an old prison receives a second life as a law school. In Flanders, daring transformations of existing architecture are raising the bar on adaptive reuse. Historical structures are adapted to the current needs of their users and given new functions thanks to meticulous renovations and innovative extensions. Contemporary Flemish architecture stands out with its creative conversions. This book documents outstanding examples of adaptive reuse across the Flanders region of northern Belgium. Major public projects – such as Robbrecht en Daem’s redevelopment of the iconic Book Tower in Ghent and Zaha Hadid’s Port House in Antwerp – are documented in plans, texts, and brilliant photographs. Also featured are smaller, private homes in the countryside that have been inventively repurposed and expanded. This book presents a portrait of Flanders’ amazingly vibrant adaptive architecture with 24 bold and pragmatic projects by De Vylder Vinck Taillieu, Noaa Architecten, Blaf, Korteknie Stuhlmacher, Atelier Kempe Thill, and many other architectural studios. In addition, essays and interviews with two of today’s most influential architects in Flanders provide behind-the-scenes insights.
With projects from: Atelier Kempe Thill, 51N4E, BLAF Architekten, Bogdan&Van Broeck, Bovenbouw, Callebaut Architecten, Carlos Arroyo, Caruso St John, De Filder Fink , Dierendonckblancke DBLV, evr architecten, Extensa Group, Fancesca Torzo Architetto, GAFPA, Jo Taillieu architecten, KAAN , Korteknie Stuhlmacher, noaa, OFFICE Kersten Geers, David Van Severen, Raamwerk, Robbrecht en Daem, TRANS, UR architects, Zaha Hadid
Umbau Architektur und Flandern. Florian Heilmeyer, Sandra Hofmeister (Hgg), Edition Detail, München 2024, ISBN 978-3-95553-630-5
Architecture of Transformation in Flanders, Florian Heilmeyer, Sandra Hofmeister (Hgg), Edition Detail, Munich 2024, ISBN 978-3-95553-630-5