First images show how Antwerp’s Boerentoren will be perceived: new crown on top and roof garden with statues | Instagram VTM NEWS
Antwerp
A new crown on the top, a possible bow, a roof garden with statues and space for various catering establishments. Port boss Fernand Huts, who turned the Antwerp Boerentoren into a ‘culture tower‘, has provided the first insight into the architectural plans for the iconic building. Huts also announces who has been appointed as architect: the world-renowned American Daniel Libeskind.
“Middle size? I do not know. So no, we don’t half his hole”, Fernand Huts winked Tuesday afternoon in the headquarters of Katoen Natie in Antwerp, immediately revealing the name of the designer of the new Boerentoren: the Polish-Jewish architect Daniel Libeskind. Libeskind, who became an American citizen in 1965, enjoys world fame. His curriculum vitae includes the fascinating Michael Lee-Chin Crystal in Ontario, the 192-meter skyscraper and landmark Zlota 44 in Warsaw, the striking ‘curved’ Torre Libeskind in Milan and the master plan for the redevelopment of the World Trade Center ( WTC) in New York.
It has been two years since Fernand Huts broke the news that he and Katoen Natie had bought the Boerentoren from KBC. The bank, which has owned the iconic tower since 1930, had already decided to look for a buyer a year earlier. After all, the renovation costs of the columns removed with asbestos were too high.
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‘Culture Temple’
It was already known that Huts will transform the Boerentoren into a ‘culture temple’, and that his own art foundation, The Phoebus Foundation, will play an important role. But on Tuesday, the port boss really went into detail. Huts resolutely opts for culture, so visibly. There is no consultation in the design of residential and commercial functions.
“The Boerentoren will be a completely public culture tower,” says Huts. “With exhibition spaces, a sculpture garden, a panoramic viewpoint and a bookshop. In the monumental plinth, no less than three full and double-height floors are reserved for temporary and long-term reservations for temporary and long-term exhibitions. The same applies to a large part of the basement and the current parking garages: here too we provide a concise space for exhibitions. Exhibition spaces will even be accommodated in the – rather – small tower. Finally, there is also space for catering. I am thinking of a café, tearoom, restaurant and champagne bar. We wouldn’t want visitors to go hungry or thirsty, would we? (laugh)”
Bigger than cathedral?
For the first time, Huts also showed images of the design by architect Libeskind. And admittedly, those eyes are impressive. In the first few years, the Boerentoren undergoes a total metamorphosis – also on the outside. One of the most eye-catching features is the new large crown that will offer a 360-degree view of the city. For the Antwerp residents who are already getting worried: no, the Boerentoren will not be bigger than the 123 meter high Antwerp Cathedral of Our Lady. “I promised mayor Bart De Wever that”, Huts winked on Tuesday.
Also striking in the design: behind the current tower will be a second ‘bow’, made of glass, which will provide circular access to the tower top. The construction will include lifts, (escape) stairs and above all: a green lung with vertical gardens. Huts assures that the original steel construction will not be touched.
Asbestos removal works
It is not entirely clear when the new tower will be erected. The asbestos removal work started last year and will be fully completed by the autumn of 2024. If the project has received the green light by then from services such as the master builder, heritage, spatial planning, fire brigade, and the building permits are in order, construction can actually start. Earlier, Hutten carefully moved 2025-2026 forward as the opening date.
The port boss does not expect major obstacles. He is certain, however, that the changed metamorphosis of the Boerentoren discussion will arise. “But that’s not good. A city without debate is a dead city. We will engage in debate.”
City council surprised
And Huts were right. Do you want a sketch of the presentation of the design already about pressure over the tongues in the Scheldt city. The Antwerp city council seems rather surprised to react. “The first column of the European mainland is an icon that Antwerp is proud of and that we must carefully hand over to our children,” Mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA) told us. “It is clear that we will wake up to the view of one of the most distinctive buildings of our city. Designs are free, but have been improved in the extensive process that is running for this heritage site with the city architect.”
Alderman Annick De Ridder (N-VA), responsible for urban development and spatial planning, also reacts cautiously. “The Boerentoren is close to the heart of every Antwerp resident,” she says. “We are certainly pleased that the cultural map and high accessibility for Antwerp residents are drawn so clearly. This proposal must first be assessed by numerous public services. Think of the services of the city architect, heritage, spatial planning, fire brigade, to name but a few. It is therefore still much too early, especially as competent ships, to make concrete statements about this.”
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