B at Open Monumentendag – Sunday 14 September
Six locations, six ways to discover B up close.
It’s that time of year again: on Sunday 14 September '25, we’ll be celebrating Open Monumentendag. Across Flanders, more than 800 historic sites will be opening their doors to the public. This year’s theme? Architectural heritage.
As part of the celebrations, B invites you to visit our Ghent office — home to B-juxta, our division specialised in restoration projects. You can also visit no fewer than five remarkable monuments in Antwerp and Ghent, all restored or renovated by our teams.
Experience our passion for architectural heritage firsthand. You’re warmly invited!
Open day – B-office Ghent
To mark Open Monumentendag, we’re opening the doors of our Ghent office in the iconic Miljoenenkwartier. This elegant townhouse, home to B-juxta, will host a unique behind-the-scenes experience dedicated to heritage architecture.
General programme
Drop in any time between 11:00 and 16:00, with the option of a guided tour through our workspace.
You’ll discover more about our ongoing projects and the core values that shape our design approach – such as sustainability, circularity, inclusivity and collaborative ways of working. On this day, we shine a spotlight on our expertise in adaptive reuse, restoration and heritage care for both movable and immovable heritage. It’s how B-juxta – often in collaboration with the other B-divisions – gives the past a meaningful future.
Lectures
Throughout the day, we’ll host a series of short talks exploring current restoration and reuse projects, each from the perspective of one of our design teams. These sessions highlight how cross-pollination between disciplines leads to robust heritage projects across scales.
- 11:00 – B is
Sven Grooten, general director of B, offers a glimpse behind the scenes of our practice.
- 12:00 – Living in heritage
What does it mean to live in a heritage building? What are the challenges of renovating historically valuable homes – and how do we balance respect for the past with contemporary comfort?
Through a selection of striking examples, we show how B-juxta works hand in hand with our small-scale architecture team B-bis. Featured projects include the renovation of Villa Kaplansky, a modernist icon, and a recently restored residence designed by Roger De Winter. We also present the home of our neighbours across the street – a 1930s art deco design by architect Jules Lippens. In addition, we highlight our approach to the historic dwellings within the Beguinage of Our Lady Ter Hoyen in Ghent – a UNESCO World Heritage site and the oldest case we present, with buildings dating back to the 17th century.
These projects demonstrate how we start from the unique identity and history of each building and develop a balanced, future-oriented living quality – brought to life by a multidisciplinary team.
- 13:00 – Religious heritage
This year’s Open Monumentendag programme puts a wide range of religious heritage in the spotlight – a theme that resonates strongly today, thanks to the many successful examples of adaptive reuse. B-juxta is proud to play its part in this, focusing on careful restorations that combine the preservation of historical value with the potential for new functions.
In this talk, we present the restoration and transformation of the St Godelieve Abbey in Bruges (in collaboration with B-architecten), as well as the ongoing works at St Peter’s Church in De Panne, which will soon reopen as a contemporary public library. We also highlight the restoration of the Church of St Andrew and St Ghislenus in Belsele – a monument of remarkable historical layering, with the earliest parts dating back to the early Middle Ages.
- 14:00 – Solidaris headquarters Ghent
The new headquarters of Solidaris is currently under renovation at the Vrijdagmarkt in Ghent. With this move, the mutuality returns from Zwijnaarde to its historical roots in the city centre. The iconic building is undergoing a bold transformation, where historic elements are carefully restored and complemented with contemporary volumes. This lecture offers an insight into this ambitious redevelopment.
- 15:00 – Arsenaal site Ghent
Marked by its monumental sheds and web of railway lines, the Arsenaal site was built in 1881 as the Atelier Central de Réparation for the maintenance and repair of steam locomotives and freight wagons. Fully operational until 2018, it was accessible only to NMBS staff.
Today, our urban design division B-city is leading the masterplan and acting as spatial coordinator for the site’s redevelopment into a vibrant, mixed-use neighbourhood rooted in industrial heritage. This talk introduces the project and outlines our vision for the future of this unique area.
In short.
- Open office at B-juxta | free access between 11:00–16:00
- B-juxta, Congreslaan 36, 9000 Ghent
- Talks will be held in Dutch
- Spots are limited (15/session) — email laura.bonne@b-architecten.be to register.
Dutch version of the programme – openmonumentendag.be
Campus Opera – KU Leuven Antwerp
Finalist for Het Erfgoedjuweel 2025
Campus Opera is the transformation of a 1950s modernist building in Antwerp’s historic city centre. Originally designed in 1946 by Marc Appel and Jan Welslau, the former Provincial Safety Institute was carefully restored by B-architecten and converted into an innovative learning hub for KU Leuven. It now houses lecture halls, study areas and shared facilities for the Faculties of Arts and Business & Economics.
On Open Monumentendag, you’ll have the chance to discover all five finalists of Het Erfgoedjuweel — the City of Antwerp’s award for outstanding urban heritage. Visit Campus Opera and find out why it deserves your vote.
In short.
- Free visit to the ground floor atrium | 10:00–17:00
- Guided tours | Start at 10:30, 11:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30
- Registration required
More info and registration – openmonumentendag.be
Help Campus Opera win the People’s Choice Award – vote now at erfgoedjuweel.be
More projects to discover
Besides our own open day and Campus Opera, four other buildings where B played a key role in the restoration, renovation or redevelopment will open their doors to the public:
- MoMu – Fashion Museum Antwerp
B-architecten was responsible for the recent renovation and redevelopment of the ModeNatie building. On Open Monumentendag, guided tours will highlight the building’s layered history and the recent architectural interventions shaping it for the future. More info
- Beguinage Onze-Lieve-Vrouw ter Hoyen – Ghent
B has been involved in the phased restoration of this UNESCO-listed beguinage since 1995. The serene, walled site is one of the best-preserved examples of its kind and retains its residential function today. More info
- Hotel d’Hane-Steenhuyse – Ghent
This hidden heritage gem in the heart of Ghent is the subject of a long-term heritage management and restoration plan by B-juxta. Visitors can explore its richly decorated interiors and learn more about the building’s layered past. More info
- Villa Voortman – Ghent
Villa Voortman, a fine example of early 19th-century empire architecture, was restored by B-juxta and transformed into a residential and care-oriented facility. One of our colleagues will guide visitors through the building during Open Monumentendag. More info
We hope to welcome you at one or more of these rich locations!