Antwerp City Hall

The restoration of Antwerp City Hall reinforces its function as the political and administrative heart of the city. Through a holistic and technically sophisticated approach, the project enhances public access and sustainability while safeguarding a UNESCO-listed Renaissance landmark for future generations.

© Georges De Kinder

Antwerp City Hall, completed in 1565, is one of Northern Europe’s earliest Renaissance civic buildings. Part of the UNESCO-listed Belfries of Belgium and France, it remains the administrative and political heart of the city. The recent restoration, led by the City of Antwerp with HUB and Origin Architecture & Engineering, preserved this core function while addressing urgent structural and technical issues accumulated over decades.

The project adopted a practical and historically informed strategy, grounded in extensive research, including dendrochronology, material testing, and 3D laser scanning. It responded to functional, sustainability and heritage challenges through a comprehensive design process. The building embarked on an extensive restoration journey from 2018 to 2022. The building’s most ceremonial floor (“Schoon Verdiep”) was meticulously restored, including its ornate chandeliers, decorative mantelpieces, gold-leather wall coverings, and mural paintings, using traditional crafts and reversible conservation techniques.

The intervention balanced continuity with innovation. Historic gateways were reopened, and the main entrance was repositioned to face the Grote Markt, reinforcing the civic identity of the building. The third floor and attic, previously underused, now host modern offices, supported by discreet steel-framed floors and energy-efficient systems. The central stairwell was crowned with a new glass dome, bringing daylight to the core and providing a platform for contemporary art. Two glass rooftop pavilions bring natural light into the upper levels while respecting the building’s structural rhythm.

Sustainability was a guiding principle throughout the project. The project achieved a BREEAM Very Good – a rare feat for a historic monument – thanks to dynamic energy simulations, sustainable water management, reversible HVAC systems, and biodiversity measures, including insect habitats, and green roofs. Materials were reused where possible, and systems were designed for future adaptability, including connection to a local district heating network.

The restoration was financed through a carefully managed €29 million budget, with approximately 60% of construction costs subsidised by the Flemish Agency for Immovable Heritage. Despite COVID-related delays, the project remained on track thanks to a feasibility study that informed every phase, from concept to execution.

Since reopening in June 2022, Antwerp City Hall has welcomed over 65,000 visitors through guided tours, exhibitions, and public events. The building is now fully accessible and serves as both a working city hall and a vibrant civic space. By maintaining its historic function while embracing contemporary needs, the project offers a model for the adaptive reuse of major heritage buildings across Europe.

 

“This exemplary restoration of a 16th-century city hall balanced structural conservation and energy efficiency, while preserving the building’s original civic function. The project, executed by a highly professional team, underlines the responsibility of local authorities in safeguarding and communicating Europe’s shared cultural legacy,” the Awards’ Jury stated.

More information: www.origin.eu | www.hub.eu | www.visit.antwerpen.be/en/info/town-hall