A former nightclub in Antwerp's historic red-light district has been transformed into 23 modern apartments, marking another step in the ongoing gentrification of the Schipperskwartier neighborhood. The conversion project on Oudemansstraat was completed by Amsterdam-based Woonwerk Architecten, who won the competition in 2017 for this urban development initiative commissioned by the city's AG Vespa development corporation.
The Schipperskwartier has been known as Antwerp's red-light district since the 19th century, but the area is experiencing significant change. Prostitution, drug dealing, bars, and nightclubs are increasingly concentrated in a smaller area, while surrounding streets and squares are being redesigned, historic buildings renovated, and new residential developments constructed. This transformation represents a broader urban renewal effort aimed at revitalizing the central district.
Woonwerk Architecten drew inspiration from their home city of Amsterdam when designing the transition between public and private spaces. The architects specifically referenced the famous canal ring stoops, where a few steps lead to a small platform in front of building entrances. These steps serve as extensions of living rooms in Amsterdam, where residents pause for coffee breaks, chat with neighbors, or display potted plants. The firm implemented a similar concept on Oudemansstraat in Antwerp.
The architectural solution involved placing seven maisonette apartments across the full length of the building's lower two floors, each with direct street access. The ground floor was elevated, requiring five steps from the street to reach the residential entrances. The light brick facade emphasizes these seven entrances through distinctive corner window elements made of dark wood. Between these residential entries, a two-story entrance marked in bold yellow leads to the stairwell and the communal garden at the rear of the building.
Community spaces received priority throughout the design, according to Woonwerk. The circulation areas are deliberately oversized to function as meeting places for residents. These include the entrance foyer, the main stairwell, and particularly the gallery walkways on the rear side, which provide access to apartments on the upper floors. This emphasis on shared spaces reflects contemporary thinking about fostering neighborhood connections in urban housing developments.
The renovation retained only the building's facades and roof, along with some rear sheds from the original structure. Both the ground floor elevation and the new roof construction utilize bio-based materials, primarily wood. The sustainability concept includes a heat pump system, low-temperature underfloor heating, heat recovery ventilation, and photovoltaic panels on the roof, demonstrating the project's commitment to environmental responsibility.
The apartment mix was designed to attract a diverse resident population including families, seniors, and single occupants. The building offers different unit types: standard apartments of 53, 56, and 58 square meters, plus larger maisonette units of 82 square meters. Additionally, three townhouses were created in an adjacent historic building along a small alley connected to the garden. These two-story units each provide 100 square meters of living space. The entire development encompasses approximately 3,840 square meters, creating a substantial addition to the neighborhood's housing stock.
The project represents a successful example of adaptive reuse in urban regeneration, transforming a former entertainment venue into quality residential housing while respecting the area's historic character. The architects' attention to community-building through design elements like the Amsterdam-inspired stoops and generous circulation spaces demonstrates how thoughtful architecture can facilitate social interaction in dense urban environments.
