The House. The Mentor. The Archive. Christian Kieckens

Two ‘fellow travellers’, who have given shape to the development of Kieckens’ work throughout years of collaboration, provide the frame of reference: Maarten Lambrechts and Katrien Vandermarliere. Kieckens’ archive, which was recently donated to the Architectural Archives of the Province of Antwerp, testifies to an extensive accumulation of thoughts, drawings and presentation work. This too is also a rich source of material for the exhibition. The House. The Mentor. The Archive. reveals the interaction between architectural history, design research, teaching and the built oeuvre. 



Kieckens gathers a world of art and architecture around him. He immerses himself in research into the autonomy of architecture: the churches of Francesco Borromini, the pyramid of Cheops, Baroque domes in Bohemia, the Swiss neutrality, the work of his mentor Pieter De Bruyne ... Kieckens’ career reads like a search for the interaction between word and image, theory and history, imagination and use. This complex quest forms a contrast to the visual simplicity of his designs. 



These insights form the basis for the transfer of knowledge to new generations of architects. The fundamental message that Kieckens wishes to convey, as a lecturer, is the importance of unity in design. The creation of architecture in which every component is essential: nothing more,nothing less.

Temporary interventions

• Roberto Cremascoli 10.02 – 21.02.2016
• Peter Downsbrough 24.02 – 06.03.2016
• Mira Sanders 09.03 – 20.03.2016
• Manon de Boer 23.03 – 13.04.2016
• Kim Zwarts-Elmar Kleuters-Josef Bischofs 06.04 – 17.04.2016
• Ante Timmermans 20.04 – 01.05.2016
• Hannes Hulstaert 04.05 – 15.05.2016
• Willy De Sauter 18.05 – 29.05.2016