On Friday 24 May 2024, the municipal council of the City of Antwerp approved the scoping note and the preliminary draft for the spatial implementation plan (ruimtelijk uitvoeringsplan, RUP) for the new building of the Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (Museum voor Hedendaagse Kunst, M HKA). 

A few weeks ago, the Flemish Community also selected six architectural firms that could make a design proposal for the new M HKA. The city aspires to create an iconic building for this project, which will further strengthen the cultural core in the Zuid or South neighbourhood and connect the Scheldt Quays and Gedempte Zuiderdokken. The RUP will be submitted to the municipal council in November 2024 for provisional adoption.  ​

As already known, the Flemish Government, M HKA and the City of Antwerp want to realize a new M HKA on the site of the Court of Appeal in Zuid. 

Since the current spatial implementation plan for the City Centre does not allow for the ambitions of a solid new museum building, the city is working on a specific spatial implementation plan for the museum project. 

The scoping note builds on the initial note and, together with the process note, is the guideline for the development of the design. He also takes into account the advice and results of the participation process.

Cultural core in ‘t Zuid

The site forms a hinge point between two important urban spaces: the Scheldt Quays and the Zuidpark. 

The 7 hectare park on the former Gedempte Zuiderdokken was officially opened on 17 May 2024. The 7 kilometer long Scheldt Quays are still in full development. The ‘Sint-Andries and South‘ section near the M HKA was officially opened in July 2023.

​With this plan area, the cultural core in ‘t Zuid of Antwerp is strengthened, with many cultural institutions in the dense and slightly wider surroundings: the Photography Museum (FOMU), the Zuiderpershuis, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Antwerp (KMSKA) and the Fashion Museum (MoMu).

Alderman for Spatial Planning Annick De Ridder (N-VA): “The new Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp will be located right between two impressive urban development projects: the just completed 7 hectare brand new Zuidpark and the redeveloped Scheldt quays. This unique building between the Scheldt and greenery will not only further strengthen the cultural core in the South of Antwerp, but also become a new and architectural eye-catcher and an open, inviting and accessible building for a wide audience. That is the ambition that M HKA, the Flemish Community and the City of Antwerp cherish.”

The aim for the new M HKA is an open, accessible building that will appeal to a wide audience and will stand out from the surroundings in height and appearance.

New landmark in urban view

The total maximum construction volume of 100,000 m³ corresponds to the maximum carrying capacity of the site.

The decision was made to conceive of the building as a plinth or pedestal and a tower. The maximum building height of the tower – 80 metres – fits in with the city’s vision with regard to high-rise buildings. The tower can be regarded as a landmark in the urban view. The maximum building height is in line with the Nieuw Zuid (New South) high-rise cluster. A slender tower is mandatory.

At the same time, the first building line on the quays is today characterized by a uniform facade height of the buildings on the quay road. To maintain the visual line formed by these facades along the quay road, the building height of the plinth must be in harmony with the facade height of the building blocks along the quay road.

Services in function of the new museum

In addition to the museum itself, related offices and services can also be provided for the museum. A museum café or restaurant or retail store in the form of a museum shop are also possible. These functions can only be realised if they are directly linked to the main function.

Timing

The municipal council will provisionally adopt the RUP in November 2024, after which the 60-day public inquiry will start. The final adoption of the RUP is scheduled for May 2025.

In the meantime, the Flemish Community will continue to appoint the construction team. This way, the design can immediately be aligned with the provisions of the new RUP.  ​

Art and museums in Antwerp

• RED STAR LINE MUSEUM | ‘A wanted refugee: Einstein and Red Star Line’ exhibition until Sunday 8 September 2024.
• ANTWERP | Innovations in the Middelheim Museum provide a completely new visitor experience.
• ANTWERP | New Rubens House building and garden to open on 30 August 2024.
• FOMU 2024 | Antwerp photography museum ft. Dirk Braeckman, ‘RE/SISTERS’ and Nick Geboers.
• A visit of the Flemish Tram and Bus Museum – Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum (VlaTAM) in Antwerp.
• ANTWERP | Discovering queer(ed) art with the Queer Tour at the KMSKA fine arts museum.
• REVIEW | Illusion Antwerpen, an active and photogenic museum.
• Antwerp museums and sports facilities team up with European Disability Card for accessible leisure activities.
• ‘Jef Verheyen, Window On Infinity’ exhibition at KMSKA, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, until 18 August 2024.
• Museum Mayer van den Bergh.
• 2024 at Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Antwerp (KMSKA): Rubens, James Ensor, Jules Schmalzigaug and many more.
• 2024 at the museums of Antwerp ft. Ensor Year.
• ANTWERP | Inside Rubens House.
• Museum Plantin-Moretus in Antwerp.
• ANTWERP | Museum Vleeshuis up for restoration.
• BOOK | ‘Antwerp. An Archaeological View on the Origin of the City’ by Tim Bellens.
• Red Star Line Museum.
• Paleis op de Meir. 
• DIVA, Antwerp Home of Diamonds.
• ANTWERP | Red Star Line Museum of (e)migration.
• ANTWERP | Museum Mayer van den Bergh is expanding into former District Hall.
• ANTWERP | Museum Aan de Stroom (MAS) hosts ‘To Antarctica. The polar pioneers of the Belgica’ exhibition until 3 November 2024.