PREDIKHEREN KLOSTER – A LIBRARY IN HISTORIC SETTING
Het Predikheren in Mechelen, Belgium, has a history dating back to 1736, when it was established by the Dominican Order. Its name is derived from the Dutch term for Dominicans, "Orde der Predikheren." Over the centuries, the building served as a nursing home, training center, military hospital, and armory. By the time the city assumed ownership in 1977, the monastery had been significantly altered by its various military uses.
An ambitious renovation began after an architectural competition was announced. The winning firm, Korteknie Stuhlmacher Architecten from Rotterdam, chose to retain the building’s historical traces and patina as an integral part of its identity. Today, the monastery has been reborn as a library and meeting place, where the interior elegantly merges historical authenticity with modern functionality. Shelving systems are carefully tailored to the proportions of the rooms, creating an inspiring setting for reading and reflection.
Lighting is a central element: SCAN pendants and ceiling fixtures in polished brass provide a harmonious base illumination that accentuates the architectural layers and complexity. In the café area, SCAN is combined with TRINITATIS and LYNG pendants in a random pattern, resulting in a decorative composition of light. Outdoors, rustic NYMØLLE fixtures in copper and glass complement the monastery’s historic character.
In 2020, Het Predikheren was honored with the Flemish Immovable Heritage Award and a public audience prize. The result is a dynamic, functional library where past and present converge into a holistic experience.
Products: Scan Pendant, Scan Ceiling, Trinitatis Pendant, Lyng Pendant, Nymølle Wall
Client: City of Mechelen
Architect: Korteknie Stuhlmacher Architecten, Rotterdam
Photos: Luuk Kramer
