a baroque church as a contemporary agora
a cultural hub for the Predikheren
In the competition for the conservation and repurposing of the Predikherenklooster in 2010, the magnificent space of the church was deliberately left empty. From our initial considerations about the ruin, we felt that an agora or multifunctional contemplation space would be an important and attractive part of a future-proof, contemporary library. It was only after the library opened in the monastery that the works on the church began. In the autumn of 2024, the Predikheren has been opened as a multifunctional hall for performing arts with excellent acoustics, suitable for lectures, concerts and events.
| locatie: | Predikherenklooster, Goswin de Stassartstraat, Mechelen (BE) |
| ontwerp: | 2021-2023 |
| uitvoering: | 2023-2024 |
| wedstrijd: | 1e prijs, Open Oproep 2213, samenwerkingsproject met Hildundk, München |
| opdrachtgever: | Stad Mechelen |
| restauratiearchitect: | Callebaut Architecten |
| bouwkundig advies: | Bureau Bouwtechniek |
| constructeur: | ABT Antwerpen |
| installatieadvies: | RCR Herent |
| aannemer: | |
| foto's: | Maurice Tjon a Tham en Luuk Kramer |
The Predikherenkerk was only used as a church between approximately 1720 and 1790. After that, the space served as an armoury and horse stable until the military left in 1975. After more than 50 years of being vacant, the space was and remains truly impressive. Its charm is due not only to its beautiful proportions and ornaments, but also to the many traces left behind by the various brutal alterations: a cobblestone floor, rough doors and window openings, and remnants of intermediate floors and chimneys.
The City of Mechelen is using the church as a cultural hub for the city. There is a demand for a space for performances, a venue for artists, and an extension for the library. In addition, the necessary service areas are needed to make this possible, including a bar and foyer, backstage areas, storage rooms, toilets, and technical rooms.
To transform the church into a contemporary and inclusive meeting place, a few simple elements have been added to the space. The interventions are visible, efficient and reversible. The U-shaped mezzanine creates the desired atmosphere and functionality and improves the acoustics of the space. We see this balcony as an integrated “space machine” that provides technical, spatial, functional, acoustic and atmospheric improvements with a single gesture. The major intervention was completed by locally added acoustic panelling. The additions are inspired by traditional elements that have long been used to furnish church spaces, such as wooden choir screens, galleries and balconies.
