The former Municipal Warehouses (Stadsmagazijnen), a unique historical site from 1876, located between Keistraat and Leguit in the Schipperskwartier (Sailors’ Quarter, the red light district), are getting a makeover. Municipal real estate agency AG Vespa will start in August with the restoration and redesign of the warehouse complex and adjacent inner area. If everything goes as planned, the site can be put back into use in 2026.

The protected Municipal Warehouses, designed by architect Pieter Dens, is a warehouse complex that bears witness to the centuries-long trading tradition in the historic center of Antwerp. It consists of a unique ensemble of open and closed warehouses on one site, and is exceptionally well preserved.

The starting signal for this project was a decision by the Flemish Government in May 2019 to award a subsidy to the City of Antwerp. The City of Antwerp approved the final design at the end of 2021.

Design

After the removal of recent infill walls, the open warehouses will receive a new recessed facade.

Disruptive non-historical elements such as the facade of the open warehouses, the addition to the entrance and the canopy in the inner area will disappear.

The buildings are being completely restored and redesigned.

There will be several trees in the inner area, which will provide cooling during the summer months in the future.

Councilor for Urban Development and chairperson of AG Vespa Annick De Ridder (N-VA): “In a mythical part of Antwerp, the Schipperskwartier, there is a protected site from 1876. These buildings designed by city architect Pieter Dens were in need of a thorough restoration and renovation. Here we will remove the disturbing non-historical elements such as the addition to the entrance and the canopy in the inner area, and completely restore and redesign the buildings themselves. We are also greening the inner area with some trees. The works will start in August. Giving our Antwerp heritage a second life guarantees a long life!”

Start of the renovation

At the beginning of August, AG Vespa, in collaboration with Origin Architecture & Engineering, will start the restoration and redesign of the protected monument.

Restoration work on the original structure will take place first. The warehouses are then made weather and windproof.

The archaeological investigation is planned for a later stage. Sewerage works, the construction of new rainwater and septic tanks, offer a unique opportunity to first search this historic site for traces of habitation and artisanal/rural activity from the Middle Ages and later.

The Ruien walks at the site already ended. To guarantee the safety of visitors during the works, a temporary structure will be built.

Information moment

Local residents with questions about the works can attend an information session on the site on Tuesday 25 June between 6 PM. and 8 PM.

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