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BOERENTOREN | Resit for Fernand Huts’ big transformation plans

Posted by Timothy on

The Boerentoren or Farmers’ Tower, one of Antwerp’s most iconic buildings, is set to undergo a significant transformation under the direction of entrepreneur Fernand Huts and star architect Daniel Libeskind. With a revised design now submitted, the project appears to be moving closer to final approval, although key planning steps remain incomplete. 

The overhaul promises a less ostentatious and more sensitive adaptation than earlier proposals, aiming to balance the building’s historic identity with contemporary architectural ambition.

The plans were announced on 18 June, Hut’s 75th birthday.

Since acquiring the Boerentoren in 2021, Huts has been working on a redevelopment vision that redefines the structure as a public and cultural destination rather than a residential or purely commercial site. 

Less in your face

The revised plans, recently presented, reveal a toned-down approach compared to Libeskind’s original concept from 2022. 

His first proposal, while bold, had little regard for the historic context of the Groenplaats. Known for dramatic interventions such as a jagged metal-and-glass wedge through a heritage building in Dresden and sharp crystal-like structures in a Canadian museum, Libeskind’s earlier ideas for the Boerentoren were received with some concern.

The updated design, however, is more restrained. It retains Libeskind’s signature architectural language, including dynamic metal lines and bold forms, but with a more integrated and respectful treatment of the site’s heritage. 

City living room

The façade of the Boerentoren will remain untouched, save for the application of a fire-resistant layer. The original steel structure will be preserved, and architectural elements added by Léon Stynen in the early 1970s will be maintained. 

A new ‘city living room’ will be created within the building, offering a space for public use beneath the preserved ceiling grids.

Top

The height of the tower has also been a point of negotiation. While the team initially considered extending the structure beyond the height of Antwerp’s cathedral (123 metres), the revised design now settles at 103 metres—still six metres higher than the current building. The revised top, which replaces the existing one, is more cubist in style and better aligned with the Art Deco aesthetic of the original tower. 

This new crown will span four storeys, from the 26th to the 29th floor, and will feature diagonal steel lines within glass façades to create a dynamic silhouette.

Atrium

Inside, the design allows for bolder gestures. Above the city living room, an atrium will channel daylight through a rooftop dome composed of irregular glass planes. 

Sculpture garden

On the twelfth floor, at the rear of the tower, a sculpture garden will serve as a green oasis and lookout point, showcasing works by internationally renowned artists. 

This section, situated on a triangular annex, enables Libeskind to introduce a sharp volume extending into a higher storey—an echo of his more expressive architectural style, albeit in a more moderate form.

Structural stability has been addressed through the installation of an internal exoskeleton, hidden within the stairwell. This allows for the addition of compact glass lift modules, or “backpack lifts”, which will move along the exterior walls without obstructing the view of the façades.

Open to the public

The plan also includes opening the tower to the public for the first time in its history. Originally a residential block and later an office complex, the Boerentoren is being reimagined as a cultural and social space. 

Visitors will be able to spend time in the city living room, explore the sculpture garden, and access a new panoramic hall at the top levels of the tower.

Money

While Huts has already invested over €100 million in the project and says the budget is in place to begin construction, the city has not yet issued the necessary permits. 

Cautious optimism

Antwerp’s city architect Christian Rapp has expressed cautious optimism, stating that the new plans are a clear improvement and have taken previous criticisms into account. However, he also noted that nothing has been formalised in writing and further consultation with Libeskind is required. 

A design meeting with the Antwerp city planning department and Flanders Heritage Agency is scheduled for early July, and only after these steps can the green light be given for construction to begin.

2028

If approval is granted soon, Huts aims to complete construction within two years and finish interior works in a third, targeting an opening date in 2028. 

Despite some remaining procedural hurdles, the Boerentoren’s transformation into a publicly accessible cultural landmark is taking tangible shape.

The saga of the Boerentoren

On the look of Antwerp

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