Design teams restoration and scenography

The Rubenshuis, together with building authority AG Vespa, is taking an important step in the museum’s renovation. Following an international competition, the temporary association Origin & Happel Cornelisse Verhoeven has been selected for the restoration of the artist’s residence, Kolveniershof and a smaller building on the site of the Rubenianum building. The storytelling and scenography will be produced by Wondering, in co-production with several Belgian companies. The final design is expected in 2027.  

• The Rubenshuis has been undergoing a much-needed renovation since 2016.  
• The new entrance at Hopland 13 with access to the Rubens Experience, the library, and the redesigned garden has since been completed. 
• The next step in the renovation is the restoration of the artists’ residence, the gardener’s cottage, Kolveniershof and the construction/renovation of the adjoining building. 
• The Rubenshuis, together with building authority AG Vespa, is taking an important step in the museum’s renovation. Following international competitions, two design teams were chosen for the building’s restoration and scenography:  

Architectural team: temporary association Origin & Happel Cornelisse Verhoeven

Scenography team: Wondering, in co-production with Studio Louter, Chris Pype Licht, Create.eu and StudioMDA 

• The final architectural design is expected in 2027. By then, further information on the timing of the works will also be available.

• The temporary association Origin & Happel Cornelisse Verhoeven – a Belgo/Dutch team - convinced the jury with their respect for the heritage building and their well-thought-through interventions.  
• The multidisciplinary team has expertise in restoration, complex techniques, and circular construction. An approach in keeping with the building history of the Rubenshuis. 
• Origin has already renovated Antwerp’s City Hall, among others. Happel Cornelisse Verhoeven Architects has already received several awards, among others for the restoration of Museum de Lakenhal in Leiden. The architectural firm is also involved in the renovation of the nearby Museum Mayer van den Bergh. 

• In terms of storytelling and scenography, Belgian design studio Wondering captured Rubens’s extraordinary storytelling skills. 
• Thanks to a strong narrative and inventive audience engagement, Rubens’s boundless lust for life will come to life even more, allowing visitors to discover something about themselves through Rubens. 
• Wondering has joined forces with several Belgian companies for this project, including multimedia company Create.eu, lighting designer Chris Pype, Dutch Studio Louter and StudioMDA.