Gallery at Groeninge Abbey in Kortrijk by Barozzi Veiga

DATE

30.04.2025

This ambitious commission is based on a broad vision of identity, articulating an intervention that honors the past while envisioning new ways of inhabiting cultural space. The result is a renovated and expanded complex that will host temporary exhibitions and public events, set within a site of significant heritage and natural value, surrounded by the Begijnhofpark in the heart of the city.

The architectural proposal unfolds across several levels, with the primary goal of preserving and enhancing the original structure of the abbey. The chapel and former dormitories are restored, recovering their original spatial character, while a new underground exhibition space is introduced to support a contemporary museum program without altering the historical volume. The project also reinstates the former inner courtyard and introduces a new garden, reinforcing the domestic and contemplative dimension of the site — in keeping with the museum’s aim to engage a broad audience and become an active part of Kortrijk’s urban life.

One of the most visible and significant gestures of the project is the addition of a new pavilion in the park. This compact and carefully crafted volume engages in dialogue with the existing complex through a clear geometry: a truncated pyramid that echoes the verticality of traditional pitched roofs. Its orthogonal placement in relation to the historic structure follows a precise compositional logic, reinterpreting monastic layouts without replicating them. Materially, the new volume is clad in dark brick, giving it a distinct identity within the ensemble while balancing autonomy and respectful integration.

With this intervention, Barozzi Veiga once again demonstrates its ability to produce contemporary architecture in conversation with history, marked by conceptual rigor and precise execution. The Kortrijk project not only redefines the use of the former monastery, but also reinforces the role of art and architecture as catalysts for urban revitalization. It is a new chapter in the studio’s body of work — one defined by subtlety, contextual sensitivity, and emotional resonance.

MARCH VALENCIA | ARQUITECTURA Y DISEÑO

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