The London-based studio David Kohn Architects, along with noAarchitecten and Asli Çiçek, has won the international competition to redesign the SMAK, the contemporary art museum in Ghent, Belgium. The project involves reconfiguring and expanding the historic complex to create 20,000 square meters of exhibition and public space. The Floraliënhal, an industrial glass and steel structure built in 1913 for the World Fair, will be repurposed as the museum’s main entrance, featuring a sheltered courtyard with seating and greenery. Externally, a new belvedere tower will also signal the museum’s entrance from afar.

Aiming for a circular construction approach, the existing facades will be used as a source of materials for the redevelopment project, while also reclaiming particular elements such as decorative blue stone and bas-reliefs.