History of the building

From a modernist garage to a vibrant new museum in Brussels, read more about the storied history of Kanal.

Luna Park de Bruxelles

Kanal is uniquely located on the banks of the Charleroi-Brussels Canal. The docks on which the building stands, were drained in the early 20th century. From 1912 to 1916, the site was home to the "Luna Park de Bruxelles", a large amusement park with a fairground, bowling alley, restaurant and theatre, where Brussels and non-Brussels flâneurs loved to come for a stroll.

Post card of the Sainctelettesquare with the entrance to the Luna Park
The Sainctelettesquare with the entrance to the Luna Park around 1914-1920 (post card) © Kanal Architecture Collections

"A cathedral for cars", built from concrete, steel and glass

Cathedral for cars

In the early 1930s, car tycoon André Citroën bought the plot to build a new flagship plant. At his request, the architects Alexis Dumont, Marcel Van Goethem and Maurice-Jacques Ravazé designed a "cathedral for cars": a huge modernist complex, built from concrete, steel and glass, boasting numerous workshops and a 21-metre-tall showroom as the absolute eye-catcher.

  • Black-and-white sketch of the Citroën showroom with a curved glass facade and large "CITROËN" lettering at the top.
    Sketch by Alexis Dumont and Marcel Van Goethem for the new Belgian Citroën dealership, 1933 © Kanal Architecture Collections
  • Interior view of the showroom under construction
    The showroom under construction around 1933 © Kanal Architecture Collections
  • Black-and-white photo of the Citroën showroom and sales building with floor-to-ceiling windows on the street corner of Sainctelette, Brussels.
    The showroom and sales building in 1935, E. Sergysels © RLICC-IPW3-Study Citroën 2013-2014
  • The workshops of the Citroën garage
    The workshops of the Citroën garage, Paul Smith © Kanal Architecture Collections

Expo 58

For a long time, the building was the largest garage in Europe. After the Second World War, in preparation for the 1958 World Fair, a large viaduct was constructed on Boulevard Leopold II, skirting the Citroën garage. In response, the showroom was divided into several levels, making sure that passing motorists could still gawk at the latest car models on display.

The Koekelberg viaduct over the small ring road near Sainctelette Square, with the Citroën showroom on the right
The Koekelberg viaduct near Sainctelettesquare around 1958 (postcard by Colorprint, Brussels) © Kanal Architecture Collections

Between 1953 and 1966 the grounds adjacent to the garage were home to the Héliport de Bruxelles, on what is now Avenue de l'Héliport. The landing of the Rolling Stones was one of the last highlights in the heliport’s storied history.

Three helicopters are parked on the heliport in front of the Citroën building.
The Brussels heliport in 1955 © Mike Hooks - The Aviation Historian

Kanal

A new era began when Citroën moved shop and vacated the premises in 2014. In 2015, the Urban Development Corporation of the Brussels-Capital Region (SAU-MSI) bought the garage with the ambition to transform it into an international cultural centre. It launched an architectural competition and transferred control to the Kanal Foundation. The winning bid A stage for Brussels by Atelier Kanal (noAarchitects, EM2N and Sergison Bates architects) was unveiled in early 2018.

Render of the Kanal showroom: a modern glass-fronted building with curved roof on the corner of Sainctelette Square, featuring large windows and visible tram lines overhead
© noAarchitecten, EM2N, Sergison Bates architects

The award-winning design is now being developed into a new museum for Brussels, Kanal-Centre Pompidou, with the Brussels-Capital Region as a key partner. The project will also incorporate CIVA, the Brussels centre for architecture, landscape and urban planning. A temporary agreement was signed with the Centre Pompidou in Paris, which will run until five years after Kanal’s opening. That opening is scheduled for 2026. Between Kanal, the next-door Kaaitheater and the vibrant quartier beyond, the site will once more become a happening place where Brusselers and non-Brusselers can enjoy a stroll, celebrating art together.

  • About us

    Kanal is a museum of art and architecture and an extension of the city, with restaurants, a bakery, a library and archives, a print shop …

  • Vision & mission

    Kanal wants to be relevant and inspiring to the widest possible audience, both locally and internationally.

  • Teams

    Teams of professionals transform the Citroën garage into a new hub for contemporary art and architecture.

  • Partners

    Besides the support of the Brussels-Capital Region and the collaboration with the Centre Pompidou, Kanal has many other partners and sponsors.

  • Annual reports

    The annual reports present an overview of the key achievements and strategic milestones of Kanal and Kanal Architecture.