Het Steen

Beliggenhed: Antwerp, BE

Arkitekt: noAarchitecten

Færdiggjort: 2022

Produkter: D55 / D96 / D54 / D51 / D190

Kategorier: Kultur

Brick by Brick: The New Wing of Het Steen Along the Scheldt in Antwerp, the medieval fortress Het Steen has entered a new chapter. Architecture firm noAarchitecten was tasked with replacing the building's uninspired 1950s annex with a contemporary extension worthy of the ancient castle beside it — and brick became the material that ties the two eras together.

Rather than imitating the old stone walls directly, the architects chose brick as a modern echo of the castle's historic masonry. Working with artist Pieter Vermeersch, the design team developed a carefully calibrated colour gradient for the facade, moving from a darker base near the quay to lighter tones higher up, mirroring the palette of the original stone. Reaching the right result took extensive full-scale testing and a mathematically precise laying pattern to achieve the desired visual rhythm across the new walls. Inside, brick continues to define the experience, paired with natural stone and wood flooring, generous staircases, and traditional touches like fireplaces and bay-window seating. At quay level, the closed, robust brickwork also serves a practical purpose: helping protect the city against rising water levels.

Grand Prix for Het Steen at the 2026 Erich Mendelsohn Award

At the awards ceremony in Berlin on 4 September, Het Steen in Antwerp was awarded the Grand Prix at the 2026 Erich Mendelsohn Award for Brick Architecture. The transformation of the historic castle was designed by noAarchitecten, who used a blend of Petersen D190, D55, D96 and D90 for the new addition. The colour variations of the bricks were carefully matched to the masonry of the medieval building. The jury highlighted the project’s sensitive continuation of the historic structure, in which new and existing elements are brought together as a coherent whole, while Het Steen has also been opened up as a vibrant public place.