Vanderborght Building
Address
Rue de l’Ecuyer 50 Schildknaapstraat
Brussels 1000
Belgium
Located in the heart of Brussels, just a short walk from the iconic Grand Place, the Vanderborght Building, owned by the City of Brussels, is a prime example of modernist architectural design. This impressive structure boasts 6,000 square meters of versatile space across five floors, making it an ideal venue for a variety of exhibitions and events, including the renowned COLLECTIBLE Design Fair, a leading event dedicated to 21st-century collectible design.
Designed by architects Govaerts and Van Vaerenbergh in 1935 for the “Nouveaux Établissements Vanderborght Frères,” a company specializing in household items such as carpets, garden furniture, and bedding, the building emphasizes functionality with its modernist approach, eliminating unnecessary ornamental details. Its large storefront windows enhance visibility, while the expansive concrete floors support a flexible layout, thanks to an innovative system of sliding partition walls. Originally featuring terraces for displaying garden furniture and enjoying outdoor breaks, the building has transitioned from a commercial hub to a cultural hotspot.
After the store declared bankruptcy in 1980, the building’s potential as a cultural venue was recognized, although plans by the Royal Fine Arts Museums of Belgium to relocate there were not realized. Today, the Vanderborght Building is the home of the COLLECTIBLE Design Fair and serves as a dynamic venue for contemporary art exhibitions. It hosts three major annual events: Carte de Visite ARTopenKUNST, showcasing over 200 local artists in February; The Independent, a New York-based contemporary art fair, in April; and Strokar, a celebration of street art and photography, in May. Additionally, it offers a platform for various other exhibitions accessible to the public, affirming its role as a key destination for art and design enthusiasts in Brussels and beyond.