Reimagining a Historic Space: The Gent Waste Brick Museum
On October 3, 2026, Design Museum Gent in Ghent, Belgium, proudly reopened following an extensive four-year renovation. Helmed by Carmody Groarke and ATAMA, with historical restorations by RE-ST, this project transformed the museum into a vibrant civic space, often referred to as the Gent Waste Brick Museum. The newly constructed 2,200-square-meter wing completes the museum’s layout around its historic courtyard, introducing freely accessible spaces for exhibitions, workshops, lectures, and events.
Architectural Innovation
The extension features a facade made from Gent Waste Brick, produced from locally sourced municipal waste. Over 82,000 bricks were manufactured at Het Arsenaal using a low-energy lime-curing process, with its white color relating to historic houses along Drabstraat. The innovative approach reflects the museum’s commitment to sustainable practices and cutting-edge architecture, embodying eco-friendly design principles.
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A Coherent Museum Complex: The Gent Waste Brick Museum Vision
The new wing connects disparate buildings ranging from the 16th to the 20th century, creating a cohesive whole. Located in the previously underutilized southern passage and central plot, the addition allows the Hotel de Coninck courtyard to become a garden, serving as a central point of orientation. This design underscores the connectivity between the museum’s sections, offering a unified visitor experience. The museum thus becomes a symbol of architectural coherence and sustainability.
The building’s six distinct zones include the Stadskamer, designed as an open ‘city room’ for communal interaction, the Forum lecture space, and the Atelier workshops. A standout feature is the Loft, an event space providing panoramic views over Ghent. This aspect offers visitors an inspiring setting to appreciate the city.
Curating Contemporary Narratives
The museum’s renewed approach extends to its collection displays. “Collection. Models from the Past for the Future,” curated by Evelien Bracke, integrates about 500 items from the museum’s extensive collection into meaningful themes such as copy, comfort, and migration. This innovative curation fosters fresh perspectives on historical designs, encouraging dialogue between past and present.
Notable contemporary designers like Kana Arioka contribute by engaging with the collection, highlighting the ongoing relevance of historical design methodologies in today’s context.
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Exploring Democratic Designs
With “Public Matter(s): Design and Democracy,” curators Amelie Klein and Vera Sacchetti present democratic systems as designed entities. This thought-provoking exhibition examines the tangible and intangible forms of democratic structures, considering questions of accessibility and representation.
Inspired partly by DE40, a citizens’ panel in Ghent, the exhibition includes a “Democracy Fitness Trail,” encouraging visitors to engage in exercises promoting democratic skills such as active listening and conflict resolution. The museum creates a space where democracy and design intersect innovatively.
Utilizing Technology for Dynamic Discovery
The museum leverages technology to enhance visitor interaction with its collections. The AI-driven tool “Searcher,” developed by Jon Stam and colleagues, enables exploration through pattern and association, breaking away from static classifications. Furthermore, CO-LAB fosters collaboration among designers and communities, using the museum’s period rooms to explore topics like sustainable energy and nature-driven designs. In this way, the space becomes a hub for dynamic and modern discovery.
Source: designboom.com
Frequently asked questions
What makes the new museum wing eco-friendly?
The extension features a facade made from Gent Waste Brick, produced from locally sourced municipal waste using a low-energy lime-curing process. This reflects the museum’s commitment to sustainable practices and eco-friendly design principles.
How does the museum engage with contemporary narratives?
The museum engages with contemporary narratives through innovative curation, like the exhibition ‘Collection. Models from the Past for the Future,’ curated by Evelien Bracke. It integrates about 500 items into themes such as copy, comfort, and migration, fostering dialogues between historical designs and the present.
What technological tools does the museum use?
The museum uses the AI-driven tool ‘Searcher,’ developed by Jon Stam and colleagues, to enable exploration through pattern and association. Additionally, CO-LAB fosters collaboration among designers and communities, exploring topics like sustainable energy and nature-driven designs.