About the collections

Acquisitions are made according to priorities agreed by Kanal’s team, the acquisition committee and the board of Kanal. All artworks that are proposed for acquisition are subject to the same rigorous procedure. Submitted proposals are discussed and assessed internally by Kanal's artistic team. Their recommendations are then reviewed by the acquisition committee, which consists of external, board nominated experts. The committee meets once a year to make a final decision. All acquisitions must get the ultimate approval of the board of Kanal. Due to the workload this process puts on the team, Kanal will no longer be able to accept or process unsolicited submissions for the time being.

Acquisition committee

Internal members 

• Yves Goldstein, General director 
• Kasia Redzisz, Artistic director 
• Jennifer Beauloye, Head of collections, archives and library 

For the Centre Pompidou 

• Xavier Rey, Director of the National Museum of Modern Art 

External members  

• Daniel Blanga-Gubbay, Artistic co-director Kunstenfestivaldesarts 
• Karima Boudou, Art historian and curator 
• Diana Campbell, Chief curator Dhaka Art Summit and founding artistic director Samdani Art Foundation 
• Barbara Cuglietta, Director of Jewish Museum of Belgium 
• Ayoko Mensah, Curator at House of European History 
• Lucy Pereira, Brussels-based art collector 
• Raphaël Pirenne, Doctor in art history and professor at the erg and La Cambre 
• Maria Inès Rodriguez, Director of the Walter & Nicole Leblanc Foundation and assistant curator of the Museu de Arte de São Paulo) 

Contact:

Jennifer Beauloye, Head of Collections, Archives & Library
acquisitions@kanal.brussels

The core of the collections dedicated to garden history and Landscape Architecture is formed by the professional archives and personal library of landscape architect René Pechère (1908–2002).

In addition to Pechère’s archives, the collections include around fifty other archival holdings, notably those of Jules Buyssens, Paul Christiaens, JNC International and Télesphore Dumonceau.

A passionate bibliophile and historian, René Pechère assembled what was likely the most comprehensive library in Belgium in this field. Acquired in 1988 by the Brussels-Capital Region and managed by the non-profit Bibliothèque René Pechère, the collection has continued to expand, particularly through the acquisition of antique works. 

It contains:

• approximately 10 000 antique and contemporary publications on garden and Landscape Architecture and botany, in multiple languages;
• around 250 rare and valuable works, including original editions dating from the 16th and 17th centuries;
• major Belgian and international journals in the field.

 Founded in 1967 as a research centre for recent Belgian architecture and urban planning, Sint-Lukasarchief was initiated by engineer-architect Alfons Hoppenbrouwers with architect Jos Vandenbreeden. From 1970 onwards, Vandenbreeden developed the archive, which became part of the CIVA Foundation in 2016.

Around forty archival funds within Kanal Architecture originate in the Sint-Lukasarchief, including those of Paul Cauchie, Axel Ghyssaert, Alfons Hoppenbrouwers, Huib Hoste, Robert Puttemans and the Vervalcke family.

The Sint-Lukasarchief library focuses on architectural and urban heritage in Brussels, Belgium and internationally. Its holdings include:
 

• approximately 12 000 books, 250 plate collections and 23 000 journals;
• documentary files on over 1 500 architects, 300 sites (primarily Belgian) and around 100 thematic subjects;
• several personal ibraries are also preserved, including those of Alfons Hoppenbrouwers, the Brothers of the Christian Schools, Philippe Samyn, Richard De Bruyn, Raf De Saeger, Florimond and Edward Vervalcke, Gustave Abeels, and the AR-BR Architecture practice.

The ecology and urban ecosystems collection comes from the professional archives and personal library of biologist and ecologist Paul Duvigneaud (1913–1991), a pioneer of scientific ecology and professor at the Université libre de Bruxelles.

Accessible to the public since 1992, the collection has expanded through acquisitions supported by the Brussels-Capital Region and the Centre’s own resources.

It comprises more than 3 000 books and around 50 journal titles, including:

• scientific literature on ecology, environmental sciences, natural sciences and urban ecosystems;
• publications on everyday ecological practices such as gardening, healthy living and nature guides;
• all of Paul Duvigneaud’s publications;
• over 5 000 offprints, scientific articles, doctoral theses and dissertations collected during his career.

Founded in 1969 by Maurice Culot on the occasion of the exhibition Antoine Pompe and the Modern Effort in Belgium 1895–1940 at the Ixelles Museum, the Archives d’architecture moderne represent nearly half of Kanal Architecture’s archival holdings.

They document architecture in Belgium broadly and include collections related to Victor Bourgeois, the Brunfaut family, Antoine Courtens, Louis Herman De Koninck, Eliane Havenith, Henry Lacoste, Charles Van Nueten, and the dancer and choreographer Akarova.

Initially created for internal use, the AAM library opened to the public in 1985. Its development was supported by patronage from Philippe Rotthier and Sefik Birkiye, donations from architects’ libraries (notably Jean Dethier and Jacques Dolphyn), individual donations, purchases and exchanges.

This collection forms the backbone of the library’s holdings in architecture, construction techniques, Applied Arts, urban planning and urban history. It includes:

• approximately 30 000 historical and contemporary publications;
• numerous collections of rare plates;
• an exceptional collection of Belgian and international journals dating back to the mid-19th century;
• more than 3,000 biographical, thematic and geographical documentary files, mainly composed of press clippings, journal articles and notes;
• a rare collection of advertising material related to building materials and construction components from the late 19th century.

Founded in 1986 on the initiative of architect Philippe Rotthier, the Fondation pour l'Architecture is a meeting place dedicated to reflection and debate on architecture, the city and the living environment. It plays a central role in promoting architectural culture in Belgium, advocating an open, critical and independent approach to fashion trends.

An initial expansion in 1990, with the creation of the “gallery”, preceded its integration into the CIVA facilities in 2000, marking a new stage in the development of its activities.

Today, the Fondation pour l'Architecture, now known as the Fonds pour l'Architecture, is developing an exhibition programme, notably in collaboration with the CIVA. These projects aim to introduce a wide audience to figures and themes in Belgian architecture that have yet to be fully explored, combining memory and contemporary creation. At the same time, the Fund pursues various activities — competitions, meetings and publications — and has organised the triennial European Philippe Rotthier Prize since 1982.