Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp reopens after restoration
KAAN architecten has been working on a restoration project for a museum in Antwerp since 2003
Dec 23, 2021 
On September 25, 2022, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts (KMSKA) in Antwerp will reopen after nearly a decade of restoration. The project of the Dutch bureau KAAN architecten was intended to breathe new life into the neoclassical building of the 19th century, which houses works of art from a variety of eras and styles: from Flemish primitivists and expressionists to sculptures and drawings by artists unknown to the general public.
After the reconstruction, KMSKA got an extension, but the architects designed it in such a way as to minimize the historical appearance of the building. The museum was divided into three main zones: entrance, exhibition and office. The exposition itself is divided into two parts: “historical” and “modern”. The restored 19th century rooms are decorated in dark pink, green and red tones, which are harmoniously combined with the restored oak doors, columns and stucco. The new exhibition space is completely decorated in white. One hundred and ninety-eight skylights, through which sunlight passes through, accentuate the marble plinths for art objects.
