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Hommage

Christian Kieckens passed away

Christian Kieckens, born in 1951 in Aalst, passed away last weekend at his home in Brussels.

Christian Kieckens © Collectie Vlaams Architectuurinstituut, Collectie Vlaamse Gemeenschap

Having earned his diploma in architecture in 1974, Kieckens has played a significant role in Belgium's architectural world not only as an architect and an educator, but also because of his passion for art and culture. In 1981 he received the Godecharle Award for Architecture, and the Flemish Culture Award for Architecture in 1999.

Through his ability to bring together language, philosophy, visual art and architecture, Kieckens was a veritable reincarnation of the Renaissance architect. A founding member of the Stichting Architectuurmuseum – The Architecture Museum Foundation – he helped to create the basis for the rich and diverse contemporary architectural culture of Flanders and Belgium.

With his passing we lose an important mentor and a rich and generous personality who will be speaking to us from now on through his work.

(Katrien Vandermarliere and Koen Van Synghel)

Scenography exhibition "Arquitectura de Flandes" in Barcelona, 1997, Collection Flanders Architecture Insitute - Collection Flemish Community

Christian Kieckens, a book of condolence

Architect Christian Kieckens (1951-2020) was a mentor, source of inspiration and friend to many. The numerous reactions to his sudden death are a testament to his profound influence on the world of architecture. Therefor we made a special page where you can pay a final tribute and leave a message for his loved ones until June 15th.

book of condolence
Design for House Van Hover-De Pus in Baardegem, Christian Kieckens, 1990 Collection Flanders Architecture Institute - Collection Flemish Community

The Christian Kieckens archive

In 2014, Christian Kieckens donated his extensive archive to the former Architectural Archives of the Province of Antwerp (now part of the Flanders Architecture Institute collection). This meticulously composed ensemble of artefacts spans his entire career from 1974 to the present day. For Kieckens, it had a clear task: “The archive preserves, reaches out and distances itself.”

Christian Kieckens archive
Exhibition The House. The Mentor. The Archive. Christian Kieckens, 2016 Flanders Architecture Institute

The House. The Mentor. The Archive. Christian Kieckens

Architecture in Flanders and Brussels enjoys great international attention today. A group of emerging young architects laid the basis for this success in the seventies. The Flanders Architecture Institute and deSingel invited in 2016 one of them to create an exhibition: Christian Kieckens.

more about the exhibition
Cover Autonomous Architecture in Flanders

Autonomous Architecture in Flanders

The influence and position of the ‘Generation 74’ in Flemish and international architecture. Five well-known architects who studied together in Ghent, Marie-José Van Hee, Christian Kieckens, Marc Dubois, Paul Robbrecht and Hilde Daem, can be considered as leading protagonists of their generation. From their education at Sint-Lucas Institute and the Academy of Fine Arts to the present day, their professional careers and legacy have been of great importance to the development of Flemish architecture. In their early works and writings, they established a distinct architectural language, rooted in historical knowledge and with a reflection to art and craftsmanship. Architecture was singled out as a spatial phenomenon with an autonomous logic grounded in inhabitation and experience. This generation represents a significant turn towards architectural autonomy in Flanders which resonated with similar international developments in the late 1970s. Moreover they played a decisive role in the emancipation and professionalization of the architectural culture in Flanders.

the publication