About Us

The VANDENHOVE Centre for Architecture & Art is named after the Liège-based architect and art collector Charles Vandenhove (1927–2019), who donated his collection of nearly two hundred works of modern and contemporary art, together with its building, to Ghent University. The donation and the establishment of the centre were overseen by Bart Verschaffel (Department of Architecture & Urban Planning), who also served as the centre’s director until 2024.

The centre is jointly managed by the Faculty of Engineering & Architecture and the Faculty of Arts & Philosophy.

On the one hand, the centre organises exhibitions featuring works from the Vandenhove collection. On the other hand, it provides a platform for exhibitions on art and architecture based on research or classes by lecturers, PhD candidates and students affiliated with Ghent University. To this end, it utilises items from the university’s own heritage collections as well as external loans.

With this focus, the Vandenhove Centre aims to promote the exhibition as a research tool and as a form of knowledge and presentation. Where possible, students or researchers are involved in the conception, development, design, production and communication of the exhibitions. 

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Charles Vandenhove

Charles Vandenhove (1927–2019) was one of the most important and influential Belgian architects of the post-war period. He designed numerous notable public buildings, as well as renovation and housing projects in Belgium, France and the Netherlands, including the Institut d’Education Physique and the University Hospital of the University of Liège, the Hors-Château district and the Hôtel Torrentius in Liège, the refurbishment of the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, the Théâtre des Abbesses in Paris, the Palace of Justice in Den Bosch and the Town Hall in Ridderkerk.

Vandenhove’s work has been extensively published and his projects are included in major surveys of European architecture.

A defining feature of his oeuvre is his close collaboration with leading artists such as Daniel Buren, Sol LeWitt, Niele Toroni, Léon Wuidar, Giulio Paolini and many others. Several artists who have worked with Vandenhove as an architect are also represented in the art collection he assembled together with his wife, Jeanne.

Charles Vandenhove’s archive and library are managed by the Fondation Vandenhove, based at the Hôtel Torrentius in Liège, the Renaissance mansion built by Lambert Lombard which Vandenhove converted into a studio-home.

Vandenhove Pavilion

The VANDENHOVE Centre for Architecture & Art is housed in the so-called Vandenhove Pavilion, which was built in 2015–17 adjacent to Henry van de Velde’s famous Book Tower, dating from the 1930s.

Designed by Charles Vandenhove, the building comprises three storeys that perfectly illustrate the centre’s objectives and operations.

Temporary exhibitions are held on the top floor, which is bathed in natural light from above.

On the ground floor is an auditorium used by the entire university community for symposia, lectures and PhD defences. In 2023, artist Koen van den Broek created a mural here.

In between, on the first floor, a studio offers the opportunity to experiment with exhibition displays in the context of various courses. In doing so, the building remains a dynamic space for research and teaching.

Management

The interfaculty centre is jointly governed by the Faculty of Engineering & Architecture and the Faculty of Arts & Philosophy. 

• Director: Prof. Dr Steven Jacobs (Department of Art, Music and Theatre Studies) – steven.jacobs@ugent.be
• Board members: Prof. Dr Wouter Davidts (Department of Architecture & Urban Planning / Department of Art, Music and Theatre Studies), Prof. Dr Maarten Liefooghe (Department of Architecture & Urban Planning), Prof. Dr Maude Bass-Krueger (Department of Art, Music and Theatre Studies)
• Honorary Chair: Prof. Dr. Em. Bart Verschaffel

Team

• Coordination: Els Degryse - els.degryse@ugent.be
• Production: Bram Vandeveire - vandeveire.bram@ugent.be
• Collection: Veerle Soens - veerle.soens@ugent.be

Volunteers

To optimise the running of VANDENHOVE, we are looking for reliable volunteers who would like to lend a hand from time to time. Naturally, we will take your own interests, expertise, talents, schedule and availability into account.

If you are interested, please send an email to vandenhovecentrum@ugent.be

Support Vandenhove

As a non-profit organisation that cherishes accessibility, the Vandenhove Centre for Architecture & Art is constantly seeking sponsors and funding to manage its collection and activities.

But anyone can play their part in our work: financially, practically or by offering their expertise.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are interested: vandenhovecentrum@ugent.be