Zuid, Antwerp

The Zuid (Dutch for "South") is a southern neighborhood in the city center of Antwerp, abutting the Scheldt River.

Over the subsequent 25 years, the area saw significant development, with the majority of its key public buildings reaching completion in the last decade of the 19th century.

This economic accessibility enabled Anny De Decker to establish the "Wide White Space Gallery" (1966–1976) on the ground floor of Het Bootje, an architecturally diverse building situated at the corner of Schildersstraat and Plaatsnijdersstraat, which is now recognized as a protected monument.

The construction of a new building for the Court of Appeals on the former entrance to these docks, along with the demolition of the Hippodrome in 1972, further diminished the prominence of "het Zuid," relegating it to a district noted only for its residual charm.

Ultimately, the inherent appeal of the neighbourhood, along with a shift in attitudes towards city living, contributed to a revival in the area's prospects.

The museum holds a permanent collection of contemporary art by Belgian and international artists, a cinema, and a specialized library.

Raamtheater shared part of the large complex of buildings occupied by the Hoger Instituut van Vertalers en Tolken, the language department of Hogeschool Antwerpen, now Artesia.

This, combined with strict zoning laws, resulted in virtually all the small workshops and warehousing operations having to shut down or relocate.

Apart from existing attractions such as the housing stock and agreeable street plan, an important factor in reestablishing the elan of the neighborhood has been the availability of land for development.

This award-winning project, designed by the Richard Rogers Partnership in association with VKStudio and Ove Arup & Partners, opened in 2007.