designboom · Creativity & design

Design Museum Gent Reopens with New Wing Made from Waste Bricks

Design Museum Gent in Belgium has reopened after a four-year renovation and expansion. The project includes a new wing constructed with locally produced bricks made from municipal waste, aiming to transform the museum into an open civic space.

The expansion, led by Carmody Groarke and ATAMA, adds a 2,200-square-meter wing using timber and white brick, including a facade of Gent Waste Brick. This lime-cured brick is made from local waste materials like concrete, glass, and porcelain, with over 82,000 bricks produced locally.

The architectural project unifies buildings from the 16th to 20th centuries, creating a coherent complex around a historic courtyard. The new wing houses exhibition spaces, workshops, and event areas, with the courtyard becoming a central garden.

The museum's exhibition 'Collection. Models from the Past for the Future' displays around 500 objects from its 24,000-piece collection, re-examining historical design ideas through contemporary themes like copy, comfort, and migration.

'Public Matter(s): Design and Democracy' explores democratic systems as designed structures, addressing issues of accessibility and participation in electoral processes.

Technology is integrated through an AI-powered tool called 'Searcher,' allowing visitors to explore the collection via similarities in form, color, and text, presenting the archive as a navigable network.

The 'CO-LAB' initiative uses the museum's historic rooms for collaborative projects between designers, researchers, and local communities, focusing on topics such as sustainable energy and queer archives.

The renovation prioritized reusing existing materials and adapting later additions to improve conditions, reflecting a commitment to working with what is already present.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.