Sergison Bates to spur regeneration of Belgian medieval district with €60m arts centre
by Andrew Manns | 08 May 2019
London-based architects Sergison Bates have won an international contest to design a new performing arts centre in the medieval quarter of Leuven, Belgium.
The €60m (US$67.1m, £51.6m) project will see the Sint-Pieters Hospital, which dates to the 11th century, transformed into a 10,000 sq m multi-use structure with concert halls, rehearsal rooms, and lounge areas.
"This will be more like a cultural platform than a conventional arts venue," explained the architects.
Other firms attached to the scheme include Vogt Landscape Architects, Eld VN, and Charcoalblue.
"One of the great strengths from the design vision of Sergison Bates architects is that the new building is very nicely embedded in the unique historical heritage environment," said Leuven councillor Carl Devlies.
He added: "The Romanesque Gate, the old Sint-Pieters guest house, and the Predikheren church form an integral part of the project and the site."
The design competition brought together 65 architecture firms, among which were Mecanoo and Henning-Larsen.
The new hub – praised by Devlies as the "cornerstone" of Leuven's urban renewal – is projected to be operational by 2027.
Sergison Bates Leuven Belgium
On-site features will include concert halls, rehearsal rooms, and a publicly accessible rooftop. / Courtesy of Sergison Bates
The design competition brought together 65 architecture firms from around the globe. / Courtesy of Sergison Bates
In a statement, Sergison Bates said the building would create connections with the city's existing 'historical layers'. / Courtesy of Sergison Bates
London-based architects Sergison Bates have won an international contest to design a new performing arts centre in the medieval quarter of Leuven, Belgium. The €60m (US$67.1m, £51.6m) project will see the Sint-Pieters Hospital, which dates to the 11th century, transformed into a 10,000 sq m multi-use structure with concert halls, rehearsal rooms, and lounge areas. "This will be more like a cultural platform than a conventional arts venue," explained the
CLD,VAT,AAC,ARC,DES
More news
Alexis Dornier creates "experimental treetop boutique hotel" in Bali forest
by Stu Robarts | 14 Feb 2020
Alexis Dornier has created an "experimental treetop boutique hotel" located in Ubud on the island of Bali, Indonesia, with a mix of part-industrial, part-natural structures in a tropical forest setting. In designing the 10ac (4ha) Lift hotel, Dornier sought to forgo the typical concrete-based development approach on the island in favour of low-rise and treehouse-like structures made of metal elements and natural materials. Each of the structures has a different
Rothko Chapel to reopen after Architecture Research Office renovation
by Stu Robarts | 14 Feb 2020
The Rothko Chapel will reopen in Houston this June after a 14-month restoration project by Architecture Research Office that is part of a wider $30m (€28m, £23m) masterplan project the studio is carrying out. Opened in 1971, the chapel was created as a place for interfaith worship and contemplation by its founders – artist Mark Rothko and John and Dominique de Menil – and has 14 huge Rothko canvases on
Shortlist revealed for National Railway Museum's Central Hall
by Stu Robarts | 14 Feb 2020
Five proposals have been shortlisted for the design of the National Railway Museum 's Central Hall in York, UK, which is scheduled to open in time for the museum’s 50th anniversary in 2025. Run in partnership with Malcolm Reading Consultants, the design competition sought proposals for a £16.5m ($22m, €20m), 4,500sq m (48,400sq ft) centrepiece building to provide a new entrance space and integrate the museum estate. It will house
Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Fort Lauderdale features $35m penthouse
by Stu Robarts | 14 Feb 2020
Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Fort Lauderdale, designed by architect Kobi Karp with interiors by Tara Bernerd, boasts a $35m (€32m, £27m) penthouse with a rooftop putting green. Developed by Four Seasons in collaboration with Fort Partners, the 22-storey oceanfront development is aimed at reflecting "the very best of beachfront living" and will comprise 148 guest rooms and 83 private residences when it opens in 2021. Guests and residents
£67m Eden Project attraction to open in Northern Ireland
by Andy Knaggs | 13 Feb 2020
A new £67m (US$86.9m, €79.8m) cultural and environmental Eden Project tourist attraction, designed by Grimshaw Architects, is to be built in Northern Ireland and is expected to open in 2023. Eden Project Foyle will cover a 100-hectare (250-acre) site along the banks of the River Foyle near Derry-Londonderry, brining previously inaccessible land, three historic walled gardens and an 18th-century icehouse back into use. The destination will feature a range of
Counterspace's Serpentine Pavilion will be both one and many places for gathering
by Stu Robarts | 13 Feb 2020
Counterspace have been chosen to design the Serpentine Pavilion for 2020 with a design based on gathering spaces and community places around London that will be accompanied by a public programme across the city. Now in its 20th year, the annual pavilion commission is described by the Serpentine as "a global platform for experimental projects by some of the world's greatest architects." This year's architects from the Johannesburg-based practice –
Liverpool FC unveils updated KSS-designed expansion proposals for Anfield
by Stu Robarts | 13 Feb 2020
Liverpool FC has revealed updated KSS -designed plans for the expansion of the Anfield Road stand at its Anfield stadium and has begun a second-stage public consultation of the proposals. Plans to expand Anfield, which were first revealed in 2014, were developed following the takeover of the club by FSG in 2010 – putting an end to discussions about a potential move to a new stadium. Work to expand the
OMA's Bali hotel provides open space for guests and locals to mix
by Stu Robarts | 12 Feb 2020
OMA 's first hotel in Bali has been designed both for guests and to engage the local community, with an open space for cultural events and leisure activities. The open space, or platform, at Potato Head Studios runs from the hotel down to the beach at Seminyak and is based on the raised and ground-level courtyards of Indonesian and Balinese homes. It provides a flexible stage where guests and locals
Glazed wooden Tchaikovsky Academic Opera and Ballet Theater will be a monument to the arts
by Stu Robarts | 12 Feb 2020
wHY Architecture are to build a monolithic but welcoming glazed, wooden theatre in a new park on the Kama River as a beacon for the emerging arts district in Perm, Russia. The firm began working on the Tchaikovsky Academic Opera and Ballet Theater in September 2019 and their design was given the go-ahead in January 2020 by a vote of approval from the City Council of Perm, the planning commission
Wafai Architecture's Seashell House gets residents close to nature
by Stu Robarts | 12 Feb 2020
Wafai Architecture have designed a sustainably constructed house that is inspired by the shape of a seashell and is aimed at helping residents live close to nature. The Seashell House, the first project for which is currently in discussion, is reminiscent of a junonia shell in terms of its folded shape and its patternation. The single-storey structure's compact 240sq m (2,600sq ft) footprint means a limited impact on a site
Steven Holl Architects create "social condenser" community centre in Shanghai
by Stu Robarts | 12 Feb 2020
Steven Holl Architects have topped out the Shanghai Cofco Cultural and Health Center, which is aimed at being "a social condenser" for residents of the dense surrounding housing. Designed in 2016 and expected to be completed mid-to-late 2020, the 7,520sq m (81,000sq ft) development comprises a mix of public realm, a canalside park, space for recreational and cultural programs, amenities and health facilities. An open, spacious design contrasts that of
Hollywood's Academy Museum of Motion Pictures to open in December
by Andy Knaggs | 11 Feb 2020
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which has been designed by Renzo Piano, is set to open in Hollywood on 14 December 2020 it has been announced. The museum will be located in the former 1939 May Company department store, now called the Saban Building, with a spherical building added. Renzo Piano said: "The historic Saban Building is a wonderful example of Streamline Moderne style, which preserves the way people
Pendulum integrate parks and pools into Kansas City Royals downtown regen concept
by Stu Robarts | 11 Feb 2020
Pendulum Studio have created a concept design for a new Kansas City Royals ballpark development in the downtown area of the city that would incorporate a variety of amenities and the blur lines of public and private space. The potential for a move to a new downtown home for the Missouri-based team has been discussed for a number of years – in part with the regeneration of the area in
ATTA's forest-like restaurant reminds us where food comes from
by Stu Robarts | 11 Feb 2020
Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane Architects' (ATTA) design for the GYRE.FOOD restaurant in Tokyo, Japan, places diners in a forest-like environment of soil and lush greenery to encourage thought about the planet, the climate and where food comes from. GYRE.FOOD is located in a 1,000sq m (10,800sq ft) top-floor space of the MVRDV -designed GYRE complex, which opened in 2007 and comprises five stacked and spiralled boxes. The GYRE name is taken
Asif Khan unveils huge woven gateways for Expo 2020 Dubai
by Stu Robarts | 10 Feb 2020
Three huge entry gateways for Expo 2020 Dubai, designed by Asif Khan, will welcome visitors onto the site from 20 October, with a futuristic exploration of the traditional mashrabiya. Mashrabiyas are a type of decorative, projecting window often used to control light and airflow that typically found on Arabic residences. Khan's Expo Entry Portals, which are part of his wider work on the expo's public realm, are said to be
Limburg is taking its cyclists into water, through treetops and underground
by Stu Robarts | 10 Feb 2020
Cyclists in Belgium's Limburg province are being brought closer to nature in a variety of innovative and unusual ways. "25 years ago Belgian Limburg was the first region worldwide to develop a cycle node network, where you cycle from junction to junction," explained Igor Philtjens, Minister for Regional Tourism, chairman of Visit Limburg and the driving force behind the projects. "We were a pioneer in recreational cycling tourism, but over
Jean-Michel Gathy channels Issey Miyake to create signature installation for Tokyo spa
by Megan Whitby | 10 Feb 2020
Designer Jean-Michel Gathy has created a 3D origami-inspired feature wall for Four Seasons ' spa sanctuary in its upcoming hotel in Japan – called Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi. Dominating the spa lobby, the flowing paper structure appears to billow and sweep outwards and has been designed to calm guests as they enter the spa. Gathy’s work is inspired by Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake’s flowing fabrics, as captured
Clivedale's luxury townhouses come with Dorchester Collection services
by Stu Robarts | 10 Feb 2020
Residents at Clivedale London 's Mayfair Park Residences will not only enjoy rarified design by PLP Architecture and interiors by Jouin Manku, but also the full services of the Dorchester Collection 's 45 Park Lane hotel. Located in the prestigious Mayfair area of London, the development is Clivedale's second residential scheme after The Mansion in Marylebone. There will be 24 residences in total, including apartments, townhouses and a penthouse, all
Integrated Field create a children's hospital that's a playground
by Stu Robarts | 07 Feb 2020
Integrated Field have created a children's hospital aimed at making the experience of being in hospital less daunting, more comfortable and much more fun for its little patients by introducing elements for play and recreation. The 6,000sq m (64,600sq ft) EKH Children's Hospital is located in Thailand's Samut Sakhon province and opened towards the end of 2019 after a two-year design and build process. Recognising that hospitals can be such
Niall McLaughlin Architects to design Somerset House auditorium and public space
by Stu Robarts | 07 Feb 2020
Niall McLaughlin Architects have been chosen to design a new, multi-purpose auditorium and public space for London's Somerset House arts centre. Designed and built by Sir William Chambers during the mid-to-late 1770s, the current neoclassical building has a rich history and courtyards that are described as being among the most beautiful in Europe. With the building already home to a creative community and a variety of different exhibition and events
Arctic Bath floating spa hotel opens in Sweden
by Stu Robarts | 07 Feb 2020
The Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa, designed by Bertil Harström, Johan Krauppi and AnnKathrin Lundqvist, has opened on the Lule River near the small village of Harads in Swedish Lapland. First announced in 2017, it was conceived to be a year-round Arctic wellness destination that will float on the water during the summer and be frozen into the ice during the winter. The 12-room hotel is inspired by the era
Adidas builds sustainable sports pitch using 1.8m plastic bottles
by Tom Walker | 06 Feb 2020
Adidas has built a sustainable sports pitch in Florida, using 1.8m recycled plastic bottles. The bottles were collected from nature – at remote islands, beaches, coastal communities and shorelines – in order to prevent them from ending up permanently in the eco-system. Each bottle was then washed and treated before being converted and used as infill for the synthetic 3G pitch. The pitch has been installed at the Miami Edison
Huge V-shaped "light cone" intersects Wuhan bookstore
by Stu Robarts | 06 Feb 2020
A bookstore in Wuhan, China, has reopened after a two-year design and renovation project by Wutopia Lab that has seen a huge "light cone" inserted into the building, drawing natural light from the roof down to all floors. The 10,000sq m (107,600sq ft) Hubei Foreign Language Bookstore was established 40 years ago and has undergone a number of alterations and renovations over the years. Wutopia Lab were keen to re-establish
Sarah Mannerings Studio transform flooded garage into apocalyptic HIIT studio
by Stu Robarts | 06 Feb 2020
Sarah Mannerings Studio have transformed an unserviced and flooded basement garage in London into an apocalyptic-themed fitness studio for rowing-based high-intensity interval training workouts. The 1675sq ft (156sq m) space is the first and flagship site for the Rowbots fitness brand, which offers 45-minutes classes in which individuals alternate between rowing machines and floor-work. The brief requested the conversion of the derelict space into a boutique gym with a reception
Lyons transform car park into integrated park, square and events space - and car park
by Stu Robarts | 06 Feb 2020
Lyons with Aspect Studios, have transformed a car park in Melbourne, Australia, into a 10,000sq m (107,600sq ft) urban park with nine distinct areas and two levels of car parking retained underneath. Prahran Square was conceived to provide much needed new open public space in the Prahran suburb of the city, which has the second-lowest amount in the state of Victoria. it combines a park, a square and a network
Switch The Gym's tech-based studios relay performance data to screens
by Tom Walker | 06 Feb 2020
Dutch boutique fitness brand Switch The Gym has launched a second technology-based studio aimed at optimising workouts for each individual, designed by DR+ Architecten, No Bears and First Impression. Founded by Terry Labee, Switch The Gym provides a timetable of HIIT group workouts at an affordable price point. "It offers the fun and energy of group training with the attention and expertise of personal training, but without the expense," Labee
Tadao Ando-designed HE Art Museum delays opening due to coronavirus
by Andy Knaggs | 05 Feb 2020
China's HE Art Museum has postponed its planned opening in March due to ongoing concerns regarding the coronavirus outbreak in the country. The museum, in Shunde, Guangdong Province, is a private, non-profit art institution, devoted to collecting and exhibiting Chinese and global contemporary art. The 16,000sq m (52,500sq ft) facility was designed by Tadao Ando, and was due to hold a ceremony to mark its opening on 21 March 2020.
X+Living create fantastical 3D world for kids in Shenzhen
by Stu Robarts | 05 Feb 2020
X+Living have created a kids' activity centre in Shenzhen, China, that combines a mix of slides, ball-pits and hidden spaces with fantastical design elements and a pastels aesthetic. Shenzhen Neobio Family Park is the most recent of a number of Neobio Family Parks that X+Living has worked on. Covering 6,000sq m (64,600sq ft), it houses the play space, an entrance lobby, a changing area and a restaurant. Located partly in
Asaggio create wellness refuge at former Dolemites sanatorium
by Jane Kitchen | 05 Feb 2020
Armin Sader, of hotel architecture firm Asaggio, is reimagining a historic hotel in the mountains of South Tyrol, Italy, with an emphasis on its solitary location in nature and a focus on wellness. The building in which Forestis is situated is located in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Dolomites and was conceived by its original owners to be a sanatorium for lung disease sufferers prior to the First World War, making
Sustainable sports centre in Barcelona features greenery, timber and passive design
by Stu Robarts | 05 Feb 2020
A sports centre in Barcelona, designed by Anna Noguera and Javier Fernandez, has won awards for its sustainable and innovative design, which includes a greenery-covered façade, swathes of glazing and timber interiors. Barcelona City Council appointed Noguera and Fernandez after they won an architectural competition it ran in 2014. The competition briefed for the creation of a sports centre in the Turó de la Peira area of Barcelona, in which
company profile
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
features
Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
To advertise in our catalogue gallery: call +44(0)1462 431385
features
features
cladkit product news
The Canteen collection was inspired by post-war British design techniques
Very Good & Proper (VG&P), a British furniture brand, has curated a new dining collection that combines traditional woodworking techniques
...
Arlon's architectural range is aimed at interior designers looking for innovative and affordable renovation solutions
Arlon Graphics, a plastic and vinyl manufacturer based in The Netherlands, has launched a range of architectural graphic vinyl films
...
cladkit product news
The Anthénea pod is a luxury floating suite that could be used as a spa or treatment suite
Naval architect Jean-Michel Ducancelle has designed a solar-powered floating hotel suite aimed at offering an eco-friendly and nomadic place for
...
The Keglen collection is made up of four different pendants
BIG Ideas, the technology arm of renowned architecture firm Bjarke Ingles Group (BIG), has partnered with Danish lighting manufacturer Louis
...
cladkit product news
Gate of Bright Lights was designed to show visitors how screens and digital interfaces have replaced physical objects the gateway between us and the rest of the world.
Multidisciplinary design firm Space Popular has created a video installation for the Gwangmyeongmun Gate at the Deoksugung Palace in Seoul,
...
The Eclipse Pendant light was inspired by the lunar eclipse
John Pomp Studios, a design practice based in Philadelphia in the US, has expanded its Tidal collection to include five
...
