Costa, a new beacon of light on Sint-Andries Square.

Opening up the hangars as a public passage

An enfilade of chambers as a multifaceted agora

A green artery between Sint-Andries square and Kloosterstraat

coStA

Antwerp

How can we establish coStA as the beating heart of the Sint-Andries neighborhood, offering space for encounters, culture, recreation, and sports, while also fulfilling the urban ambition of creating a green artery? The hangars hold enormous potential as a genius loci. Transforming them into public spaces will create a generous and distinctive environment that enhances urban life.

The strategy involves stacking functions to preserve the hangars and minimize the footprint. Only two theaters and a versatile space are located on the ground floor, while the backstage and ballroom are above. Amidst an amalgamation of existing and new spaces, the inner agora emerges as a social and functional connecting enfilade. It forms a sequence of majestic rooms, each with its unique character, serving as a foyer, library, coffee corner, reception, exhibition space, orangery, living area, and more.

We strategically remove pavement to create city gardens. These green interventions establish an uninterrupted green artery between Sint-Andries Square and Kloosterstraat.

  • Design teamDirk Somers, Carole Boeckx, Myrthe Geelen, Matthis Adam, João Baptista & Andreas Hede Dahlgaard
  • LocationSint-Andries
  • Year2023