KANAL - Centre Pompidou is a museum for modern and contemporary art located in Brussels, Belgium, near the Brussels–Charleroi Canal, in the former buildings of a Citroën garage. The definitive opening is scheduled for 2025. During the renovations, the museum remains open at its temporary location K1, at 1, avenue du Port/Havenlaan.

Building

The building, which is included in the inventory of architectural heritage of the Brussels-Capital Region, is a former garage built for the Citroën company between 1933 and 1934 under the direction of the French architect Maurice-Jacques Ravazé [fr] with the Belgian architects Alexis Dumont [fr] and Marcel Van Goethem [fr]. It was modified in 1954 by Louis Hoebeke.

The building occupies most of the block that is enclosed by the Square Sainctelette/Sainctelettesquare, the Quai des Péniches/Akenkaai, the Quai de la Voirie/Ruimingskaai and the Quai de Willebroeck/Willebroekkaai. The former showroom, on the corner of the Square Sainctelette and the Place de l'Yser/Ijzerplein was a single, 21-metre-high (69 ft) volume with a glass facade. In the 1950s, several floors were added to the showroom.

On 28 March 2017, the Urban Development Corporation (SAU-MSI) of the Brussels-Capital Region launched an international design competition for the €125 million conversion to a museum. The jury selected a proposal, A Stage for Brussels by noAarchitecten, EM2N and Sergison Bates architects.

History

Plans for a museum by the Brussels–Scheldt Maritime Canal were first proposed in 2014. The government of the Brussels-Capital Region hoped to use works from the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, but failed to garner support for using the federal art collection. In March 2015, the government of the Brussels-Capital Region and Groupe PSA reached an agreement for the sale of the site. The sale, for €20.5 million was finalized on 29 October 2015. When the museum was unable to use works from the federal art collection, it partnered with the Centre Pompidou to provide artworks and knowhow. The Centre Pompidou will receive €11 million for 10 years, of which €2 million will be allocated for staff in Paris.

KANAL Brut

Prior to the renovation and definitive opening in 2023, KANAL - Centre Pompidou pre-opened in May 2018 with an event called KANAL Brut, curated by Bernard Blistène, with works from the collection of the Centre Pompidou and a film studio designed by Michel Gondry. The museum closed for renovations in June 2019.

See also

• Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art
• List of museums in Brussels
• History of Brussels
• Culture of Belgium