Rubens House invites visitors to newly restored garden and reception
The Rubens House in Antwerp will partially reopen to the public on Friday, offering visitors a renewed experience centred on one of the city’s most iconic figures, Peter Paul Rubens.
While the artist’s historic home remains closed for extensive restoration and renovation work until at least 2030, the garden and a new reception building are ready to open.
Rubens, a master of the Baroque era, was not only a prolific painter but also a diplomat. His home city of Antwerp served as the centre of his artistic production, which brought international acclaim to the city in the 17th century, making his home a significant cultural landmark.
The new reception building, on the opposite side of the garden with an entrance on Hopland, addresses several issues that previously hindered the Rubens House, such as a lack of proper reception area, a reading room and a library.
The new building also includes the Rubens Experience, an interactive space featuring an audiovisual show that delves into the artist's life and work. Designed by the architectural firm Robbrecht and Daem, the building's striking appearance is inspired by two massive bookcases, symbolising Rubens' passion for books and learning.
The garden, designed by Rubens himself, has also undergone a transformation. The redesign incorporates plant varieties that were popular during Rubens’ time, giving the garden a lush, historical ambience.
Fashion designer Dries Van Noten contributed colour advice to the garden architects, ensuring the space reflects the spirit of Rubens' era. Additionally, sustainability measures such as rainwater recovery in underground buffer tanks have been implemented. To celebrate this partial reopening, the Rubens House will host a month of performances, guided tours and lectures.
© BELGA VIDEO TIJS VANDERSTAPPEN
"Rubens has already given Antwerp a lot, and today we are giving him something back," said city councillor Nabilla Ait Daoud. "The first phase of the renovation of the Rubens House has now been completed, and we are ready to receive visitors again. The Rubens House was not what we wanted to offer visitors as a museum, so a major renovation was necessary."
Antwerp mayor Bart De Wever attended the reopening and called for the return of several Rubens works from France, which were taken during the French occupation at the end of the 18th century.
"There has been a lot of lobbying for this over the years, including by the prime minister, but we keep getting nothing," De Wever said. "We have now sought legal advice to possibly pursue this matter through the courts. Personally, I believe we should take this step. It’s a matter of legal justice, but also historical and moral justice."
The artworks in question include The Great Vision of Saint Dominic, the altarpiece from Antwerp's St Paul's church, which now hangs in the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Lyon.
#FlandersNewsService | The garden of the Rubens House, 28 August 2024 © BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS
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