Museum aan de Stroom, Postmodern museum building in Eilandje district, Antwerp, Belgium
The Museum aan de Stroom rises 62 meters in height with ten floors built from red sandstone, glass, steel, and concrete along the Scheldt riverbank. A spiral glass gallery connects each exhibition room with a quarter turn offset and offers views over the surroundings.
Construction began in September 2006 after Neutelings Riedijk Architects won the competition in 2000. This municipal project has since shaped the harbor and Eilandje district as a new architectural center.
The facade displays 3,185 metal hands that reference traditional Antwerp hand-shaped cookies and combine with medallion patterns inspired by the Renaissance. This motif connects local pastry with historical ornamentation and makes the building a landmark of the city.
The building opens Tuesday to Sunday between 09:30 and 22:00 and offers wheelchair access to all areas. Escalators connect nine floors and a restaurant is located on the upper level.
The glass gallery spirals around the interior and offsets each floor by a quarter turn from the previous one. Visitors experience a gradually changing perspective on the harbor and cityscape during their ascent.
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