Flemish government selects design team for new M HKA: Bovenbouw Architectuur and Christ & Gantenbein to lead the project

After the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw opened last week, ambitious new building plans have now been presented for M HKA in Antwerp. Both museums are part of the European museum confederation L’Internationale, alongside MACBA in Barcelona, Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven, Moderna Galerija in Ljubljana, and Reina Sofia in Madrid, among others. This makes M HKA one of the development-oriented contemporary art museums in Europe. It built a reputation with iconic monographic exhibitions for artists such as Jimmie Durham, Shilpa Gupta, Anthea Hamilton, Otobong Nkanga or Laure Prouvost, as well as ambitious thematic exhibitions such as recent Monoculture and Eurasia. The director of M HKA, Bart De Baere, is secretary general of CIMAM.

M HKA is the international contemporary art museum of the Flemish Community of Belgium. It was founded in 1985, as the successor institution to ICC (International Cultural Centre), founded in 1970, one of the hubs of the then international avant-garde. Now it will get a full-fledged museum infrastructure, becoming both a public meeting place, and providing space for extensive collection presentations. “This is how this museum will be remembered; as a shared space, a meeting place for a diversity of people, communities and artistic worlds,” states Flemish Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez.

Its collections range from the avant-garde of the 1960s to an openness to today’s multipolar world, with a particular focus on Eurasia, including extensive collections of art from the former Soviet space, from Ukraine to Central Asia. The M HKA also focuses on visual culture, with a film museum operation, and it looks after the Flanders Art Archives Centre.

The Flemish government has appointed Belgian firm Bovenbouw Architectuur and Swiss studio Christ & Gantenbein to design the ambitious new building for the Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (M HKA). With a total project budget of €130 million, the new museum will become a defining landmark in Antwerp’s cityscape, showcasing contemporary art through a sustainable and innovative approach. This appointment follows a rigorous negotiation procedure, with a strong focus on concept quality, vision, and sustainability. The new building, which will be located on the site of the current Court of Appeal on Waalsekaai, will serve as a key cultural catalyst for Flanders, further elevating the museum’s presence on the international stage.

Bovenbouw Architectuur and Christ & Gantenbein selected as design team for new M HKA building

The Flemish government has appointed Bovenbouw Architectuur (BE) and Christ & Gantenbein (CH) as the design team for the new building project of M HKA, the Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp.

Bovenbouw Architectuur is a Belgian firm founded in 2011 and based in Antwerp. Led by Dirk Somers—professor, manager, and chief designer—the team of 23 talented European architects engages in a design practice that fosters an intense dialogue between building and reflection. The firm rethinks the role of the architect, treating theory and design as equally vital tools in the creative process. In 2021, Bovenbouw curated the Belgian pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale. The firm has extensive experience in international collaborations, including the ongoing reconversion of Hasselt’s beguinage with David Kohn Architects and the recently completed renovation of the Royale Belge building in Brussels, developed in close partnership with the London-based firm Caruso St John.

Christ & Gantenbein is a Basel-based architecture firm founded in 1998 by Emanuel Christ and Christoph Gantenbein. Bringing together a diverse team of 100 professionals from 20 countries, the firm explores fundamental architectural forms, striving for a balance between contemporary innovation and historical context. This approach is evident in the firm’s numerous projects for museums and art institutions. Notable completed works include the extension and transformation of the Swiss National Museum in Zurich and the expansion of the Kunstmuseum Basel. Christ & Gantenbein is currently engaged in a diverse range of projects across Europe, including the extension of the MACBA in Barcelona and the Wallraf-Richartz Museum in Cologne.

Bovenbouw Architectuur and Christ & Gantenbein were selected from a shortlist of six candidates, with the decisive criterion being the quality of their concept and vision formulation. To demonstrate this, the design team submitted a conceptual design and accompanying vision statement, illustrating how their approach adds value within the urban context and broader social framework, enhances spatial and architectural quality, and prioritises sustainable and circular building.

Bovenbouw Architectuur and Christ & Gantenbein will collaborate as a design team within a construction team — an approach that is unique on this scale in Flanders. A construction team is a project-based partnership that brings together the contracting authority, the selected design team, and the appointed contractor for the works contract. The design team and contractor are selected through separate assignments, distinguishing this process from a design-and-build approach. Each member of the construction team maintains independence and responsibility, with particular emphasis on preserving the autonomy of the design team.

A transparent and carefully managed procedure, overseen by the Flemish Agency for Facility Operations in collaboration with the Flemish Government Architect

As a Flemish cultural heritage institution, M HKA is expected to excel in its museum operations. However, various preliminary studies have shown that the current infrastructure is insufficient to meet these standards. The museum faces several infrastructural limitations and deficiencies. The Flemish Community owns both the museum’s infrastructure and the majority of its collection.

The Flemish Government, in consultation with the city of Antwerp, previously decided to keep the M HKA in the Zuid district. The new museum building will be constructed on the site of the Court of Appeal, centrally positioned along the axis of the new Zuidpark district. To support its international ambitions, the previous Flemish Government allocated a total project budget of €130 million. In her policy note, the new Minister of Culture, Caroline Gennez, reaffirmed the Flemish Government’s commitment to the realisation of the project.

In May 2024, the city of Antwerp approved the scoping note and preliminary draft for the spatial implementation plan (SIP). The scoping note builds on the starting memorandum and, together with the preliminary draft, serves as the guiding framework for the design process. It also takes into account the recommendations and outcomes of the participation process. The provisional adoption of the SIP is scheduled for May 2025, followed by a 60-day public inquiry. Since the Flemish Government has already appointed architects to develop the design, it can be aligned immediately with the provisions of the new SIP.

In June 2023, the Flemish Community issued the public tender to appoint a design team. The Flemish Agency for Facility Operations supervised the procedure in cooperation with the Flemish Government Architect. A total of 54 design teams submitted applications, from which the client, following the advice of an expert selection committee, shortlisted six candidate designers:

• Bovenbouw Architectuur (BE) + Christ & Gantenbein (CH)
• DRDH Architects BV + Jamie Fobert Architects (UK)
• noAarchitecten + EM2N Architekten AG (CH) + Sergison Bates Architects (UK)
• OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen (BE) + SO–IL Office (USA)
• Robbrecht en Daem architecten + Dierendonckblancke architecten + Laura Muyldermans
• Studio Nauta Bedaux VOF (NL) + Feilden Fowles Architects Limited (UK)

The selection process resulted in a diverse mix of Flemish and international architects, comprising one exclusively Flemish team, two international teams, and three mixed Flemish-international teams. The selection process assessed not only the teams’ experience and perspective on the role of a museum today but also their ability to build sustainably.

In September 2024, the assessment committee convened, and the six candidate designers presented their vision for the brief. In addition to representatives from the Department of Culture, Youth and Media, M HKA, the Flemish Agency for Facility Operations, the Flemish Government Architect, and the City of Antwerp, the committee also included several external and international experts to assess the architecture, urban integration, museum quality, sustainability and financial feasibility. Each vision was evaluated based on three awarding criteria: the quality of the concept and vision formulation, the quality of the project approach, and the price.

Recalibrating ambitions and new insights for the future Museum of Contemporary Art

The ambitions of the Flemish government, as the client for the construction project, have evolved since the previous procedure in 2019. Sustainability, for example, has become an even higher priority. Similarly, M HKA has refined its ambitions for the future museum. New insights emerged from these exercises and the proposals from the first architectural competition. Additionally, economic conditions shifted, and construction costs increased significantly. These factors led the Department of Culture, Youth, and Media, in collaboration with the museum, to re-examine and optimise the programme.

During the preparations for the SIP, it became clear that the original building programme was too large for the Court of Appeal site. The museum will rise in height, but only on part of the building block, in order to respect the neighbourhood and minimise the impact of shade and wind. Consequently, over 20 percent of the programme was excluded from the now-approved design.

A forward-looking museum: sustainable, iconic and connected with the city

The Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (M HKA), like the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) and Mu.ZEE in Ostend, is an independent institution owned by the Flemish Community. The Flemish Community established M HKA in 1985 as a non-profit organisation to maximise flexibility and operational freedom. The Flemish Community owns the infrastructure and the majority of M HKA’s collection. The museum receives an annual allocation for operations and staffing. Additionally, both M HKA and KMSKA are classified as cultural heritage institutions of the Flemish Community, as outlined in the Cultural Heritage Decree. The decree stipulates that these are leading institutions in terms of quality and management. They serve as international benchmarks, showcasing Flanders’ cultural heritage while playing a significant social role, both broadly and in specific contexts. Their approach to cultural heritage work sets an example for other stakeholders in the field.

With this new-build project focused on presenting contemporary art and practices in an international context, Flanders is taking the next step in making its collections more accessible and advancing its position in the cultural heritage sector. The new building is a key driver for further developing the Flemish contemporary visual arts sector and establishing its international presence. In the new museum building, the Flemish Community will be able to display its own (contemporary) art collection in a high-quality and sustainable manner, while also hosting leading national and international exhibitions. The museum has an important social function, with a broad programme for and active participation of diverse target groups. The new museum will also serve as a key scientific institution for contemporary art. Research activities will be consolidated in a separate research centre, located nearby the new building. The centre will provide space for cutting-edge artistic, curatorial, and art-science research, collection preservation and management, as well as innovative production.

The new museum is a sustainable museum. Sustainability is fundamental to cultural heritage institutions: it involves the qualitative preservation and transmission of what we value to future generations. Sustainability encompasses several dimensions: a building with a long lifespan, one that is robust and built to stand the test of time, timeless in design with enduring value for the next century. It is a building that people will enjoy visiting and spending time in, with a low environmental impact and significant social value.

The future museum building will be a robust architectural landmark, defining the area’s identity while serving as a connection between the Scheldt quays and Zuidpark. It will enhance the existing museum cluster in the area and act as a catalyst for the region’s cultural identity. This open, inviting, and accessible building is designed to appeal to a wide audience, creating significant architectural and spatial value. Moreover, it contributes to the enrichment of the public realm and exudes a strong sense of openness. This public character is not only reserved for the widely accessible areas of the museum, but also extends to the way it positions itself within the urban space. Additionally, the building can distinguish itself in height from its surroundings. In this, the design of the building follows the provisions of the preliminary draft of the new SIP.

Key facts and figures about M HKA’s new building project

The new M HKA will be built on the current site of the Court of Appeal on Waalsekaai in Antwerp. This location serves as a key link between the Scheldt quays and Zuidpark, ensuring that the museum remains firmly rooted in the art and cultural district of Het Zuid.

Bovenbouw Architectuur and Christ & Gantenbein were selected by the client, following the assessment committee’s recommendation, from a shortlist of six design teams. The design team distinguished itself from the other candidates through its concept and vision development, which it demonstrated with a conceptual design and an accompanying vision statement. These illustrated and described how their approach adds value to the urban context and broader social framework, enhances spatial and architectural quality, and prioritises sustainable and circular construction. The preliminary design and vision statement by Bovenbouw Architectuur and Christ & Gantenbein translates this concept into a tower volume with a stepped arrangement of distinct yet clearly recognisable parts. Like other iconic towers in the city, this layered structure fosters interconnectivity and complexity. The proposal seeks to unite both inward-facing and outward-facing spaces, stacking distinct volumes that rise from the city while revealing their respective functions, shaping the museum’s unique form. The tower volume is rooted in the provisions of the SIP, which support the choice for high-rise on this site for several reasons. First, the city aims to create an iconic building that strengthens the cultural core of Het Zuid district and serves as a landmark in the cityscape. Its location on Waalsekaai, between the Scheldt quays and Zuidpark, calls for a structure that stands out in both height and form, acting as a link between these key urban spaces. Additionally, high-rise construction allows for the optimal use of the limited space on the current Court of Appeal site. This makes it possible to create a more compact volume with more functions.

The new building will have a gross floor area of approximately 18,500 m²—twice the size of the current museum. Of this, around 7,300 m² will be dedicated to exhibition spaces, 200 m² to research functions, 5,800 m² to social-event functions, and 5,200 m² to supporting functions. The building will reach a maximum height of 80 metres, aligning with the provisions set out in the preliminary draft of the SIP. The final SIP is expected in November 2025.

The Flemish government has allocated a project budget of €130 million for the realisation of this museum project. This budget covers the preliminary studies, design, and construction of the new building. The estimated base construction cost is €75 million, with additional provisions for indexation and unforeseen expenses. The total project budget also includes the development of the second location for research activities. However, this aspect falls outside the scope of the selected design team’s assignment.

Next steps: design development and construction process leading to realisation

In spring 2025, the pre-construction team phase is set to commence, in which the client will collaborate closely with the selected design team to refine the project requirements and final design. This phase involves further detailing of the project scope and developing a comprehensive design that aligns with the specified goals and criteria. During this phase, the technical specifications and construction schedule will be further developed. The goal is to establish a solid foundation for the next phase, in which the contractor will be involved to provide input on construction techniques, execution, and cost estimation.

In 2026, the planning permission will be submitted, and the contractor will join the Construction Team for the subsequent study phases. Construction of the new museum will commence once all study and design phases are completed. An exact opening date has yet to be determined.

M HKA will continue its activities in the existing building on Leuvenstraat for the coming years. However, in the lead-up to the reopening in the new building, a temporary closure is expected to allow for preparations at the new location. The timing of this closure has not yet been determined but is not anticipated in the near future.

In preparation for the new building project, M HKA will allocate time and resources to rethink, reposition, and scale up its operations in a structured and qualitative manner with its entire museum team. Concretely, this involves addressing outstanding tasks while developing a forward-looking vision and a transition project plan. This plan further includes various work packages, a detailed timeline, task distribution, and budgeting to ensure the successful realisation of the new museum operation. The transition project will be facilitated by the Department of Culture, Youth, and Media in consultation with the museum team.