Studio Libeskind to Transform Antwerp’s Boerentoren into a Cultural Landmark

Project Info

Project Name: Boerentoren Tower

Location: Antwerp, Belgium

Original Architect: Jan Van Hoenacker (1932)

Renovation Architects: Studio Libeskind (Lead Design), ELD (Local Architect)

Client / Owner: The Phoebus Foundation

Studio Libeskind has unveiled bold plans to transform Antwerp’s iconic Boerentoren into a cultural hub, giving new purpose to Europe’s first skyscraper.

A Historic Skyscraper Reimagined

The Boerentoren in Antwerp, often described as Europe’s first skyscraper, is set for a dramatic new life. Built in 1932 in the Art Deco style, the 95-meter tower symbolized modern ambition and urban progress. For decades it functioned as the KBC Tower, largely closed to the public. Now, with a redesign by Studio Libeskind and ELD, the building will transform into a cultural destination that connects art, architecture, and civic life.

Panoramic views from the crown reconnect Boerentoren with Antwerp’s civic life

The New Crown on the Skyline

At the heart of the project is a sculptural crown that will reshape Antwerp’s skyline. This bold addition restores the tower’s iconic silhouette while introducing public spaces high above the city. Within the crown, visitors will find viewing halls and a dramatic observation deck that frames sweeping views of the historic center, the River Scheldt, and the Flemish countryside. The design turns the top of the tower into a new civic landmark.

A bold glass extension brings new public and cultural life to the Art Deco icon

Elevators as Experience

The journey upward has been designed as part of the attraction. Two new glass elevators will carry visitors to the crown, offering a changing perspective of the city as they rise. The ascent itself becomes an experience, with the evolving panorama turning a simple elevator ride into a memorable part of the visit. This detail reflects Libeskind’s belief that architecture should engage people through movement and narrative, not only static space.

A Tower for Art and Culture

The interior of the Boerentoren will become home to The Phoebus Foundation’s celebrated art collection. Galleries for permanent and rotating exhibitions will fill the spaces, giving the tower cultural content as well as architectural spectacle. Antwerp, long a center for creativity and commerce, gains a new venue that links its artistic heritage with one of its most recognizable buildings.

The sculptural crown reshapes Antwerp’s skyline and opens the tower to the city

From Closed Offices to Open Civic Space

For most of its life, the Boerentoren was a private office block. Admired from outside, it was inaccessible to citizens. The redesign changes this completely. Public spaces, exhibitions, and an accessible observatory open the tower to everyone. The project redefines the building as a place of gathering, making it part of the city’s daily rhythm instead of an isolated corporate symbol.

Preserving Heritage Through Transformation

Turning an Art Deco landmark into a contemporary cultural hub requires balance. The new crown is unmistakably modern but designed to grow naturally from the original tower, reinforcing continuity rather than rupture. Libeskind’s intervention respects the Boerentoren’s protected status while giving it renewed purpose. Instead of freezing the building in the past, the project adapts it to meet the cultural needs of today.

Boerentoren, Europe’s first skyscraper, enters a new cultural era with Studio Libeskind’s redesign

Reviving an Urban Symbol

The Boerentoren has always been more than just a building. As Antwerp’s first high-rise and once Europe’s tallest tower, it embodied ambition and modernity. This redesign ensures that the tower continues to serve as a symbol—no longer of banking or commerce, but of culture, accessibility, and civic pride. By bringing people inside and up to the crown, the project allows new generations to create their own memories of the landmark.

A Model for Adaptive Reuse

Beyond Antwerp, the Boerentoren’s transformation offers a broader lesson. Cities across Europe face questions of how to treat historic high-rises. Demolition wastes history, while preservation alone risks irrelevance. Adaptive reuse, as shown here, provides a middle path: keeping the building’s character while expanding its role. The Boerentoren’s rebirth demonstrates how architecture can bridge past and future, respecting heritage while embracing new civic functions.

Conclusion: A Tower for the People

Studio Libeskind’s vision ensures the Boerentoren remains a central figure in Antwerp’s story. With its sculptural crown, cultural programming, and open access, the tower is no longer just an icon on the skyline but a living part of the city. It will offer art, views, and gathering spaces that reconnect the landmark to civic life, proving that architecture can evolve while honoring its legacy.