Seven finalists in running to design Citroën Cultural Centre

Seven finalists have been selected to deliver design proposals for Brussels' new museum and cultural centre located in the former Citroën garage. With the ambitious project, the Brussels-Capital Region plans to refurbish the building to create the largest museum in Brussels since the beginning of the 20th century.

The Urban Development Corporation (SAU-MSI) has selected seven finalists for the design of the Citroën garage in Brussels' up-and-coming canal district. It is to be transformed into a museum of modern and contemporary art and architecture, as well as an accessible cultural venue for Brussels residents and tourists alike.

The seven finalists for the project, selected out of a total of 92 candidates, have until the end of December to submit their project design. The winning architectural team will be announced in March 2018.

Most of the short-listed architectural firms are teams, with at least one of the collaborators based in Brussels. The firm 51N4E, for instance, is collaborating with Caruso St John of London. 51N4E is responsible for the renovation of C-Mine, a forming mining site in Limburg turned into a cultural centre as well as new artist workshops at the Buda centre in Kortrijk.

Other Brussels firms include Lhoas & Lhoas, which has teamed up with Berlin-based Ortner & Ortner; NoAarchitecten, which will submit a proposal together with Zurich-based EM2N and London’s Sergison Bates; and Office, which is collaborating with Christ & Gantenbein of Basel.

AgwA, meanwhile, is in collaboration with Ghent-based firm Advvt and London’s 6a, while JDS Architects is working with New York’s Diller Scofidio + Renfro. The only non-Brussels based firm bidding on its own is Oma, the bureau of internationally renowned architect Rem Koolhaas, based in Rotterdam.