Design Museum in Gent: DING

Work on the planned extension of the Design Museum in Gent, Belgium, is progressing. In 2015, the museum produced a feasibility study to explore expansion options. In 2019 London-based practice Carmody Groarke were selected to design the extension dubbed DING (Design in Gent). They are working alongside emerging local practice TRANS architectuur and heritage architects RE-ST. The estimated €15 million project will see the new wing built on an undeveloped plot on Drabstraat. The extension will link the existing museum buildings, forming the final section of the museum. DING will have free admission and aims to provide new multifunctional spaces to cater for exhibitions, workshops, lectures and debates. In addition to the extra multifunctional space, the new wing will offer a museum café, a terrace, a new welcome area and a retail space. The museum will be closed for the duration of the renovation, and staff are using the time digitise the museum’s collections for a new collection presentation and collection website. In 2022, the project began submitting planning permission documents. In May 2022 the local authority released a tender seeking contractors to undertake the renovation and restoration works, the successful contractors were two offices of Belgian construction company Artes (Depret NV and Woudenberg), with a contract value €11,982,841.25. In early 2023, it was revealed that Carmody Groarke and TRANS Architectuur Stedenbouw had worked with researchers to develop a brick made from local waste for the construction of the new wing. The foundation stone for the new wing was laid in mid-2023. Interior design is due to commence in late 2023 and exhibition planning is underway, both phases will commission work from Flemish designers and use open calls for contractors. The new wing will open to the public in 2026. (Updated 31 October 2023)