Collection Building Flemish Architecture Institute (VAi)

The Flemish Architecture Institute (VAi) owns a vast collection of architectural artefacts. Models, drawings, books, and digital archives from Flemish architects are preserved and made accessible for students and researchers. But the current depots are too small, outdated and located far away from the VAi’s headquarters at the ‘De Singel’ art campus. At the same time the institute now rents office space on the campus, without having a real place or clear address of their own. ORG was commissioned to carry out a feasibility study into the centralization of all functions in a new building on The De Singel campus.

After careful analysis of the current campus and the architecture of Stynen en Beel, we selected three possible sites on the campus to house the new collection building. The new additions do more than allowing the VAi to break out of its confinement in the Singel Buildings and claim its righteous place on the campus. All new buildings on the campus restructure the campus, opening new connections with the city and starting a dialogue between the art campus and the future Ring Parks in Antwerp.