Boekentoren - University Library, Ghent, Belgium

The Central Library of Ghent University, designed by Henry van de Velde in the 1930s, is being restored and transformed into a library for the 21st Century. The design unites the ambitions of the University to respectfully repair the monumental site to its original condition, but also to render it a contemporary house for a great diversity of users and for the valuable own collection of the institute.

The Ghent University Library is internationally renowned for its ‘heritage collection’ of manuscripts, books, coins, curiosa, newspapers and magazines. The study into the conservation project revealed that the conservation of these precious objects according to current climate policy (Ashrae) would not be possible without harming dramatically the monumental character of the building. Therefore a first phase of the project consisted of the realisation of a new underground book depository underneath the historical courtyard, where 40 km of books and objects are being preserved for the future in optimal climate conditions, on tree underground levels. 

Henry van de Velde’s (1930-35) modernist masterpiece is characterised by the contrast between the horizontality of U shaped building complex and the verticality of the actual Book Tower placed in one corner. They clearly display Van de Velde’s pioneering library concept: contrary to 19^th century Library layouts, Van de Velde separates collection from consultancy, stacking the collection efficiently on man high tower levels and foremost allowing for brightly lit and spacious reading rooms. 

The brutal fair-faced concrete skin – unusual for that building period – and the elegant exterior framework in steel further accentuated Van de Velde’s volumetric game of horizontal vs vertical. The second phase of the conservation project focused on these two emblematic aspects, starting by ‘scraping off’ 6 centimetres of the façade along the entire length of the tower and then pouring back a new concrete layer on top. All windows and doors are brought back to their original divisions and fine profiles and foreseen with high performing but ultra transparent glazing. The integration of contemporary building physical demands within a conservation logic was a constant challenge and ambition within the study of this project. 

The main wing has been discharged from improper back office functions and received a contemporary climate installation, fully integrated into the architecture, as well as new roof lights to prevent excessive summer heating without obstructing the characteristic daylight infiltration into the spaces. The Main Wing retrieved its originally ‘silent’ character by regrouping and reinforcing a few student facilities in the West wing (HIKO): a new entrance pavilion in the arm pit of the site allows direct access to a multimedia centre with increased capacity, two new class rooms and a future reading café. This student hub in the West wing will form a hinge between the Main reading rooms and the adjacent Faculty of Arts and Literature.  

On the other end of the horizontal complex, the ‘belly’ of the Tower will house a new visitors centre with exhibition facilities. From this foyer the public will be able to visit the most emblematic space of Henry van de Velde’s project, the Belvedère with its panoramic view on the skyline of the city. The intermediate book storage levels in the Tower received an interior box-in-box layout to allow to store less precious collection objects in bettered climate conditions. A few levels with the original floorings, will be on display for visitors to educate on the emblematic library concept of Henry van de Velde.