Controversial extension to Het Steen wins European architecture prize
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The Antwerp fortress Het Steen has won the European Award for Architectural Heritage Intervention, a biennial international architecture prize. The jury praised the "well-executed design" of the extension to the medieval fortress, a project that was initially met with fierce criticism.
Now in its seventh edition, the award is a collaboration between the heritage organisation AHI and the Catalonia Institute of Architects. Out of 238 projects submitted from 24 European countries, Het Steen was selected as the Built Heritage category winner.
The fortress has served many different purposes over the years and has been Antwerp's tourist reception centre since 2021, primarily catering to cruise tourists arriving on the Scheldt quays. A 1950s extension was demolished to create extra space, and a new structure featuring a tower and a roof terrace was erected in its place.
Designed to match the colour and style of the original building, the new structure was finalised in 2021. The project was met with mixed reactions, even prompting a petition to have it demolished. Critics argued that the modern brick extension spoiled the view of the medieval castle.
Balance between restoring and demolishing
The jury of the award had a very different view, praising the modern extension for its "well-executed design and careful choice of materials". "There is a good balance between rigorously restoring the existing structure and choosing to demolish the more recent additions, creating a contemporary extension that enables new uses,” they said.
“First and foremost, Het Steen is a beautiful building with a rich history," said Koen Kennis, Antwerp's alderman for tourism. "Thanks to a major renovation, it has been given an equally impressive new lease of life. We are therefore particularly proud that Het Steen has now won this biennial award, following the Immovable Heritage Prize in 2022."
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO TIJS VANDERSTAPPEN
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