“Ein neues Universum”
by Susanna Koeberle on swiss-architects.com
After several years of construction, Axel Vervoordt's “Kanaal” project was opened with various exhibitions. The site not far from Antwerp includes apartments, offices, facilities and exhibition space.At the end of November 2017 the time had finally come: the giant project “Kanaal”, started by Axel Vervoordt not far from Antwerp, was officially opened with several exhibitions. The Belgian creative spirit, which is collector, dealer, designer, gallery owner and curator in one, acquired the former industrial site, on which malt was previously processed, in 1998.
From the beginning, Vervoordt had the vision of transforming the dilapidated site into one step by step to transform a unique cultural island: Almost a hundred apartments, two galleries, an auditorium, office space (including for the Vervoordts' global interior design office) and other rooms for the extensive collection of Axel and May Vervoordt are part of this recently completed universe.
Axel Vervoordt designed the exhibition space together with the Japanese architect Tatsuro Miki. For the remaining buildings, he brought local architectural offices on board. For the Kanaal project, Vervoordt founded a real estate company run by his son Dick. His son Boris also works in the family business and manages the company's fortunes as his father's successor. Clan head Axel now only takes care of selected projects, such as the legendary exhibitions that he has curated since 2007 at the “Palazzo Fortuny” in Venice during the Biennale.