CIVA, Architectural center and arts museum in Ixelles, Belgium
CIVA is a cultural and architectural center in Brussels that combines archives, libraries, and exhibition spaces dedicated to architecture, urban planning, and landscape design. The collection holds approximately 40,000 publications and original drawings and project materials from various periods.
The center was created in 2016 through the merger of five organizations, including the Archive for Modern Architecture and initiatives like the Rene Pechere Library. This union brought together decades of collections under one roof.
The foundation preserves extensive records of Belgian architectural history and makes these collections available to visitors. The spaces show how Belgium has been shaped through its buildings and cities.
The center is located in Ixelles on Rue de l'Ermitage and is accessible Tuesday through Sunday, with wheelchair access available throughout the spaces. Visitors should plan sufficient time to browse through the extensive archives and exhibitions.
The center preserves original building drawings and project documents for Belgian architecture from medieval times to today, with some serving as artworks themselves. This collection is not merely an archive but visually documents the evolution of Belgian construction over centuries.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
