Ghent Design Museum Reopens as City's Modernist Architecture Takes Center Stage
The Design Museum in Ghent, Belgium's largest, has reopened following renovations by British architects Carmody Groarke and local firm Atama, with heritage restoration by Re-st. This initiative features a new low-carbon entrance and a pathway connecting historic structures. The reopening aligns with a design-focused autumn schedule in a city famed for its UNESCO sites, including Gravensteen castle and St Bavo's Cathedral. The Book Tower, a 1930s creation by Henry van de Velde, has been under restoration since 2007, incorporating a three-level underground depository. Upcoming events include Glenn Sestig's THE GET gallery's 'Wunderkammer Reimagined' on 2 October 2026 and S.M.A.K.'s 'Chambres d'Amis turns 40' until 10 January 2027. The Herbert Foundation will present 'All Tomorrow's Parties' from 27 September 2026 to 27 June 2027, while the Museum Dhondt Dhaenens will feature a symposium and exhibition for Juliaan Lampens from 5 November 2026 and 29 November 2026 to 14 March 2027, respectively.
Key facts
- Ghent Design Museum, Belgium's largest design museum, reopened after a revamp led by Carmody Groarke with Atama and restoration by Re-st
- The 1930s Book Tower by Henry van de Velde has been under restoration since 2007 by a team led by Robbrecht en Daem
- Glenn Sestig converted a former supermarket into THE GET gallery, whose 'Wunderkammer Reimagined' opens 2 October 2026
- S.M.A.K.'s 'Chambres d'Amis turns 40' runs until 10 January 2027, revisiting Jan Hoet's 1986 exhibition with 51 artists
- The Herbert Foundation opens an Andy Warhol films and documents show from 27 September 2026 to 27 June 2027
- The Wintercircus was adapted by BARO, SUMProject and Atelier Kempe Thill, with interiors by OYO Architects
- Museum Dhondt Dhaenens hosts a Juliaan Lampens centenary symposium on 5 November 2026
- The exhibition 'Juliaan Lampens 1926-2026' runs 29 November 2026 to 14 March 2027, opening the Van Wassenhove House
Entities
Artists
- Juliaan Lampens
- Glenn Sestig
- Bernard T. Sestig
- Middernacht & Alexander
- Scott Lippens
- Linde Freya Tangelder
- Wendy Andreu
- Minjae Kim
- Lionel Jadot
- Lukas Gschwander
- Kiki Goti
- Jan Hoet
- Janis Kounellis
- Maria Nordman
- Lawrence Weiner
- Heike Pallanca
- Haim Steinback
- Susanne Kreimann
- Daniel Buren
- Anton Herbert
- Annick Herbert
- André Platel
- Sol LeWitt
- Donald Judd
- On Kawara
- Bruce Nauman
- Franz West
- Thomas Schütte
- Andy Warhol
- Henry van de Velde
- Albert Van Wassenhove
- Rik Vannevel
- Harriet Thorpe
- Van Eyck brothers
- Andy Groarke
- Katrien Laporte
Institutions
- Herbert Foundation
- Museum Dhondt Dhaenens
- Ghent Design Museum
- S.M.A.K. (Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art)
- THE GET
- Uppercut Gallery
- Andy Warhol Museum
- Juliaan Lampens Foundation
- Flemish Architecture Institute
- Carmody Groarke
- Atama
- Re-st
- Robbrecht en Daem
- TENT
- BARO
- SUMProject
- Atelier Kempe Thill
- OYO Architects
- RCR
- Coussée & Goris
- Wallpaper*
- The World of Interiors
- Icon magazine
- Hoxton Mini Press
- Blue Crow Media
- SOAS
- City University London
- BC Materials
- Circular Flanders
- Unfold
- Chevalier-Masson
- Grond Studio
- Bureau Bas Smets
- School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
- City University in London
Locations
- Ghent
- Belgium
- Sint-Martens-Latem
- Antwerp
- Pittsburgh
- United States
- London
- Cambridge
- De Krook
- Gravensteen castle
- St Bavo's Cathedral
- Sint-Annaplein 7
- Jan Hoetplein 1
- Coupure Links 627/A
- Lammerstraat 13