Kosmos, Westouter, Protected monument in Westouter, Belgium
Kosmos is a protected monument in Westouter featuring a three-story yellow brick main building with modernist design elements including a curved central staircase and expansive rectangular windows. The site originally included multiple supporting structures spread across the grounds, each serving different recreational purposes.
Built in 1934 by architect J. De Brabandere from Ypres, the complex embodied early 20th-century ideas about modern leisure facilities. Most auxiliary buildings were demolished after 2009 when the Flemish Land Agency took over, yet the original main structure retained its protected designation.
The place served as a popular retreat for school groups and youth organizations seeking outdoor activities. Its role as a youth lodging shaped generations of visitors who gathered together in the rural Heuvelland setting.
The site is best accessed on foot or by bicycle, as it sits in a quiet hilly region away from major roads. Visitors should expect limited access since this is a protected structure, and the exterior can typically only be viewed from a distance.
The outdoor swimming pool was once the only one in the region, drawing visitors from surrounding towns. Today, only traces of the basin remain as a reminder of this popular amenity from when the center was fully operational.
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