Design Museum Gent Reopens After €20 Million Expansion

The Design Museum Gent reopened on October 3, 2026, following a four-year renovation and expansion project. At a cost of €20 million, the work centered on the addition of DING (Design in Gent), a new five-level wing that provides 2,200 square meters of flexible exhibition space. Within the updated facilities, visitors will find innovative lavatories featuring sustainable materials like seaweed paneling and volcanic ash tiles. This expansion modernizes the museum, allowing it to better display contemporary design and serve its visitors.

The museum's evolution is rooted in its 1903 origins as a “museum of models,” which originally focused on providing artisans with examples of high craftsmanship. Today, the renovations adapt that concept for the modern era, highlighting design ideas that tackle social and cultural challenges. Evelien Bracke, the curator of the new collection presentation, said the goal is to be "inspirational rather than didactic," aiming to provide "tools for future designers and a broader audience to engage with design in meaningful ways."

The transformation was a joint effort between the city of Ghent, which owns the institution, and the architectural firms Carmody Groarke and RE-ST. A vacant lot on Drabstraat was repurposed into an enclosed atrium that now serves as the main entrance. The DING wing acts as a connector for the various galleries and houses dedicated spaces for workshops and lectures, while the upper floors look out over the historic city. The layout is intended to encourage community dialogue about design and shared living.

Sustainability and material reuse are central to the new structure, most notably in the façade, which incorporates more than 82,000 locally produced Gent Waste Bricks. Inside, a shaded area designed to resemble a woodland edge offers a quiet space for visitors. Two temporary exhibitions, “Public Matter(s): Design and Democracy” and “CO-LAB,” are currently running to encourage public participation. These shows explore how design intersects with societal issues, reflecting the museum's commitment to community engagement.

The Design Museum Gent intends to build on this momentum by continuing to promote creativity and sustainable living. The inaugural exhibitions are scheduled to remain open until April 11, 2027, alongside a calendar of events designed to bring the public closer to the design process. This expansion marks a new chapter for the institution, reinforcing its position as a hub for innovation and global design dialogue within Ghent.