Library
The library is an inspiring place to practise reflection and exchange ideas. The catalogue contains over 65 000 books and hundreds of journals, magazines and document collections on architecture, heritage, urban planning, landscape and garden architecture, and urban ecosystems. It also holds thousands of books on 21st-century art and a series of artists’ editions ranging from artists’ books to fanzines.
- Opening hours
- Opens on 28 November
- Location
- Library
- Contact
Covering diverse fields and topics, the library is a privileged space for interdisciplinary exchange, reflection and exploration of how we inhabit the world, understand our environment and question the living spaces of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
It houses a rich and varied collection of nearly 65 000 historical and contemporary works, as well as several hundred magazines and documentary files devoted to architecture, heritage, urban planning, landscape and garden architecture, and urban ecosystems. Find out more about the history of the Kanal Architecture library.
Research
- Explore the library’s extensive holdings through the online catalogue.
- Librarians are available on site to welcome you, guide you and assist with both general and specialised research.
- For specific requests, we recommend contacting the library in advance (via library@kanal.brussels) so that the required documents can be prepared. Documents stored in storage may require a waiting time of up to 30 minutes.
Organisation of collections and access
Works published since 1995, the reference section and the most recent issues of subscribed journals are freely accessible.
The remainder of the collections are held in storage and are available upon request at reception. The selection of works available in the library originates from the libraries of the Archives d’Architecture Moderne, the Sint-Lukasarchief library, the René Pechère library and the Paul Duvigneaud documentation centre. It has been expanded and updated since 2017.
- A detailed map of the sections of the library is available at the entrance.
- Collections held in storage retain the physical organisation and classification of their original libraries.
- Personal libraries are preserved either in storage or in the upper areas of the reading room (restricted access), maintaining their original structure and classification.
- All documents may be consulted in the reading room, with the exception of certain rare, valuable or fragile items.
- Direct access to personal libraries is only possible upon request. However, individual consultation of the books within these collections can be arranged via the reception desk.