Our proposal for the new entry for the new S.M.A.K. in Ghent enhances Ghent’s historic Citadelpark by concentrating the two-faced museum in compact circular pavilions, freeing up more green space and harmonizing with the park’s heritage value.


Two barrel-shaped volumes integrate seamlessly into the park’s layout and preserve the Floralia hall’s autonomy in both form and function. Both buildings reinterpret the historical structures flanking the impressive hall, presenting themselves as two siblings: similar in appearance yet each with a unique identity. One is extroverted, transparent, and open, acting as a polyvalent hall for the park, the surrounding museums, and the city. The other is more introverted, serving as an intimate home for the permanent collection of the S.M.A.K.