{"id":1097,"date":"2026-02-11T03:07:35","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T03:07:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/1097\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T03:07:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T03:07:35","slug":"studio-libeskind-crowns-boerentoren-with-observatory-in-antwerp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/1097\/","title":{"rendered":"studio libeskind crowns boerentoren with observatory in antwerp"},"content":{"rendered":"

boerentoren tower to host Phoebus Foundation\u2019s art collection<\/p>\n

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Studio Libeskind<\/a> reveals its vision for the transformation<\/a> of Antwerp\u2019s iconic Boerentoren tower into a major new cultural destination. The project, created in collaboration with ELD, will convert the 1932 Belgian<\/a> Art Deco skyscraper<\/a> into a new home for The Phoebus Foundation\u2019s celebrated art collection, while reactivating its civic potential as a public and panoramic space for the city.<\/p>\n

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The redesign centers around a reimagined sculptural crown that reinstates the tower\u2019s striking silhouette on Antwerp\u2019s skyline, within hosting viewing halls and an observation deck high above the city. It will offer sweeping views across the historic center, the River Scheldt, and the Flemish countryside beyond, with two glass elevators that will carry visitors to the top, making the ascent part of the experience.<\/p>\n

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image courtesy of Norviska<\/p>\n

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Studio Libeskind honors the art deco structure\u2019s history<\/p>\n

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While the design looks upward, it also excavates the building\u2019s historic layers. Architect<\/a> Daniel Libeskind notes that \u2018the building\u2019s future must be shaped by its past,\u2019 emphasizing that the new architecture is born directly from the existing structure\u2019s geometries, materials, and proportions. The Boerentoren\u2019s original triangular floor plan, steel skeleton, and Art Deco facade \u2014 which was later marked by Brutalist interventions in the 1970s \u2014 are embraced, and treated as active frameworks in the building\u2019s next life. Working with this identity as one of Europe\u2019s earliest skyscrapers, the design composes with it to create a sensitive, transformative, contemporary spatial narrative.<\/p>\n

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Studio Libeskind anchors the interior with a vast atrium carved into the heart of the tower. The soaring void is conceived as a civic gathering space for cultural events, exhibitions, and public encounters. Flowing through the building is also the Tower Living Room, a museum-like commons that will connect people to art, heritage, and each other, and adjacent to this public core, a sculpture garden will open to the city, framing views of Antwerp\u2019s architectural landmarks and providing a tranquil civic terrace above street level.<\/p>\n

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Throughout, the architectural approach remains tightly aligned with Flemish heritage regulations. The original steel frame and exterior facades will be preserved, while the interior is adapted through a blend of restoration and spatial reinvention. The intervention is also part of a broader infrastructural initiative for the longevity of the building, as over \u20ac100 million has already been invested into preparatory works, including the complex removal of 4,000 tons of asbestos.<\/p>\n

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Studio Libeskind reveals its vision for Boerentoren tower\u2019s transformation\u00a0 | image courtesy of Norviska<\/p>\n

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the redesign centers around a reimagined sculptural crown | image courtesy of Norviska<\/p>\n

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within, it hosts viewing halls and an observation deck high above Antwerp | image courtesy of Norviska<\/p>\n

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sweeping views across the historic center, the River Scheldt, and the Flemish countryside | image courtesy of Studio Libeskind<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"boerentoren tower to host Phoebus Foundation\u2019s art collection \u00a0 Studio Libeskind reveals its vision for the transformation of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1098,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[19,1168,1133,1169,1170],"class_list":{"0":"post-1097","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-antwerp","8":"tag-antwerp","9":"tag-architecture-in-belgium","10":"tag-daniel-libeskind","11":"tag-renovation-and-restoration-architecture-and-design","12":"tag-skyscraper-architecture-and-design"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1097","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1097"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1097\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1098"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1097"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1097"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1097"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}