a place to live,
work, and explore.
“a residential, commercial, and cultural hub, built with industrial heritage.”
Kanaal is a source of inspiration for people in search of authenticity. Located in Wijnegem, Belgium along the banks of the Albert Canal, the site was originally built in 1857 as a distillery and malting complex. In 2017, the industrial brick warehouses and concrete grain silos were transformed into modern living and working spaces.
By respecting history and embracing the building’s existing character, the entire site was given a new lease for the future.
This is a dynamic environment where you can live and work. The diverse settings and highly original architecture make each space feel one-of-a-kind. Nearly 100 private apartments are surrounded by offices, workshops, and public spaces, including courtyards and a restaurant. Set amidst a backdrop of lush gardens and meandering paths, you’ll sense the harmony with the environment, which enhances the experience of life.
Quality of life at Kanaal is a top priority. The site’s pure architecture was built for its usefulness. This creates a human element that makes visitors feel warm and welcome.
Live
Kanaal is a place where life finds its personal expression. See the diversity of homes. Meet the residents. Listen to their experiences. Discover available real estate. Learn what makes living at Kanaal exceptional.
Work
Kanaal is a place to be part of the story. This creative environment embraces the past and present to define what’s needed for the future. Find out about new projects and what people are working on in this unique setting.
Explore
Kanaal is a place for inspiration. The mixed-use setting includes offices, apartments, workshops, galleries, and gardens that offer a unique experience. Find out more about events, exhibitions, and installations to visit.
Nature brings it all together.
Walk, wander, and wonder your way through the site. The lush gardens, meandering paths, and open courtyards are a creative way to merge the private and public atmospheres that exist at Kanaal. The green landscaping guides visitors from one building to the other, while discovering the architectural diversity. Michel Desvigne designed site’s comprehensive landscape plan.
Permanent art installations
The site’s revitalization was built upon a philosophy of sharing art as a source of introspection, inspiration,
and peace. The Axel & May Vervoordt Foundation permanently installed works by artists Anish Kapoor,
James Turrell, Marina Abramovic, Tatsuo Miyajima, Otto Piene, Kimsooja, and others. The works are installed
in a disused chapel, a former grain storage structure, and at the base of the industrial silos,
giving each space a new use for the future.
Axel Vervoordt Gallery
Art & experience
Axel Vervoordt Gallery has a series of exhibition spaces located at Kanaal. Organizing more than a dozen exhibitions per year, the inspiring series regularly features artists from Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. The contemporary shows ensure that there is always something exciting and interesting happening for visitors to explore.
Visit Axel Vervoordt Gallery website
Auditorium
Sharing passion
Centrally located at Kanaal, is an intimate auditorium with a 100-person seating capacity. It is the ideal setting to host artist talks, multimedia presentations, conferences, and private events.
The auditorium is also the perfect venue for high-quality concerts, such as those hosted by the music foundation, Inspiratum, which hosts a monthly musical series at Kanaal with an annual program full of world-class talent.
“At the Edge of the World”
In 2000, Anish Kapoor’s
“At the Edge of the World”
was permanently installed .
Insight : behind-the-scenes
This following series of articles and links offers inside information on Kanaal’s design process, the overall vision and development, as well as interviews and in-depth conversations. We hope that you find this information useful in learning more about the architecture, the importance of landscaping, the mixed-use functions of Kanaal, and the people who live and work here that make this site the dynamic place it is. A selection of featured articles below, for the full overview click here
