Listed Belgian heritage site gets a new future and relevance

How can you not only restore a listed heritage site to its former glory, but also give it a place with the necessary relevance in the current context? A good example of this is the restoration of the Abbey of Vorst in Belgium, a project that finally got off the ground in mid-November last year after a fairly long lead-up period. Ultimately, in three phases, a place should be created that brings together various institutions in the fields of culture, art education and youth affairs.

Revitalised location

A cultural centre, to be called ABŸ, has one central goal: to create a lasting cultural dynamic in a revitalised location that respects history. To achieve this, it is based on a design by the architectural firms a practice (Brussels) and :mlzd (Biel, Switzerland), in collaboration with Bureau Bouwtechniek (Antwerp). The entire project is being driven by the Brussels public building expert Beliris. The project includes restoration, renovation and new construction.

Historic buildings in a semicircle

The restoration and complete renovation includes the historic buildings in a semicircle. A new building will be constructed for the French-language municipal library and toy library. The existing buildings will be insulated to meet current standards, while the new buildings will meet passive house standards. In this way, the 12th-century Abbey of Vorst (and the associated gardens in the centre of the municipality) should be restored to its former glory. The abbey was partially rebuilt in 1764 by architect Laurent-Benoît Dewez, but in recent decades the buildings fell increasingly into disuse, requiring a rethink of their use and design. The municipality of Vorst had taken over the remains of the abbey in 1964, which was classified in 1994.

In the long term, the cultural centre ABŸ wants to move to the establishment of a new theatre and a youth centre. The gardens are also being redeveloped, with 400 new trees being planted here. Once the project has been completed, the residents of Vorst and various cultural institutions will have access to an infrastructure of almost 9,000 m², harmoniously spread around the former parade ground. The intention is for the site to become a place of individual and collective development. Through its infrastructure and gardens, it should contribute to better community life.

Various phases

The work is being carried out in three phases, according to the three areas that are being redeveloped. First, there is the demolition of an old restaurant, the construction of the French-language library and the renovation of the exterior of the southern wing. The work is said to take three years.

“We aim to translate the existing and listed heritage into contemporary standards”, we hear from Bureau Bouwtechniek. “In this way, it must meet current usage requirements without losing its authentic charm. To achieve this, we want to connect the new building parts, such as the library, and the existing buildings, in harmony with each other. This requires a careful integration of restoration and renovation, in which new functions are incorporated into existing buildings. It goes without saying that we do not want to leave any detail untouched.”

Total cost

The total cost of the work is estimated at €21,682,261 (including VAT). The project receives financial support from the ‘Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest’ (Regional Government of Brussels-Capital) (via the ‘Duurzame Wijkcontract Abdij en de dienst Cultureel Erfgoed’ (Abbey Sustainable Neighbourhood Contract and the Cultural Heritage Department), the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and the European Union via the ERDF programme.

All images © a practice