Antwerp's majestic Royal Museum of Fine Arts – also known as KMSKA – is about to reopen its doors after a transformation and update by Dutch architecture practice KAAN Architecten. This includes a brand new wing with a series of minimalist rooms. Now, the building, a generous, historic late 19th century structure, has been thoroughly restored and extended, now offering more and better spaces to experience art.
The venue, which was originally designed by Jacob Winders and Frans van Dyck, was conceived as a ‘daylight museum', explains the team at KAAN. This means, it was a building to be experienced as ‘a promenade surrounded by stunning artworks as well as the external landscape, witnessed through its multiple lookouts over the city and the inner patios.'
Respecting the existing structure's intention, the architects hid all alterations and extension within the existing volumes. So, from the outside, one would never anticipate the heritage building was ever changed at all. Once stepping inside though, visitors encounter KAAN's masterful, minimalist signature style, which has been adapted to fit the 19th century building.
The museum's masterplan, the architects say, is now divided into three main areas. There is a public entrance area, the central exhibition spaces and offices (which the team dubs ‘feel, see and work' spaces, respectively). Old merges effortlessly with the new, respectfully blending periods and styles in a functional and appropriate manner. This allows the institution's rich art collection to take centre stage.
A brand new 21st century gallery space is located at the building's heart, replacing four patios. It consists of a series of bright, white halls composed of sharp plastered surfaces and bespoke marble furniture. The contrast between this wing's minimalist rooms and the existing galleries makes the addition clear and signifies the contemporary work to be displayed there. It also highlights and celebrates the museum's heritage value through juxtaposition
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