Utopia

Dirk Martens, a native of Aalst, first printed Thomas More's iconic book Utopiain 1516. It is consequently the theme for the library and Academy of Fine Arts in the centre of the city of Aalst. It is in the library that this contemporary city is confronted with its history. The architects have transformed a former military training school into a meeting place for young and old. The many activities and performances staged here attract residents from across the entire city. A separate circulation system and state-of-the-art acoustic design ensure that this single space offers scope for a variety of activities such as studying, working, reading, meeting, playing, etc. The heavy acoustic doors in particular contribute to this setup. Another example is the separate entrance for staff and to the café to ensure that readers and students are not disturbed. This allows the café to function totally independently on the ground floor, creating a connection to the city. The people of Aalst are justifiably proud of Utopia, which also attracts many visitors from beyond. Offering a variety of activities and an inviting atmosphere, Utopia is an extremely captivating building.

This project was opened on the occasion of the 2019 Day of Architecture. The text is based on a contribution by Lauren Overlaet.