Botanic Spa Antwerp

HOTEL BOTANIC, a polished pearl.

The restoration and repurposing of the former Elisabeth Hospital complex in Antwerp’s historic centre consists of a series of historic buildings and gardens located between Lange Gasthuisstraat, Sint-Jorispoort and Leopoldstraat, next to the Botanical Garden. Hidden behind the polished façades, the historic buildings now welcome new ‘guests’ into a sanctuary where history and the present meet. In this way, important heritage is returned to the city and its residents. Blending with the botanical garden, the site becomes a unique oasis — a place to escape the bustle of the city.

For the architectural commission, AIDarchitecten, working closely with clients Mr Eric De Vocht and Ms Maryse Odeurs, ensured an intelligent and high-quality restoration and repurposing. Supported by historical research and studies, the architects sought the right sensitivities and interpreted the building-historical elements accurately and with integrity. A respectful approach to the existing buildings, adapted to the complex hospitality programme, was key. A balance was sought between preserving the heritage and introducing modest interventions that support contemporary use. Structural and historical sustainability formed the basis of the design. The ‘dynamic preservation’ of the ensemble goes hand in hand with a cosmopolitan character and understated architecture. The task was like polishing a dull pearl: without special effects, but with the right subtle touches, the hotel became a new place of encounter in the historic heart of Antwerp. The atmosphere in Hotel Botanic is one of coming home in a safe and familiar environment — unpretentious, full of class and warmly welcoming. A captivating place where imagination has room to unfold.

For the interiors, honest and authentic materials were used: natural stone, warm timbers, traditional paint techniques and refined textiles. Craft details were reinterpreted to strengthen the soul of the buildings. By distilling existing archetypes, an architecture emerges that continues the centuries-old story in a quiet, natural way. Built-in furniture and lighting were custom designed, sober and contemporary. In the decorative elements, the botanical reference is never far away.

A sense of shelter perhaps best describes the new setting. Surrounded by imposing trees and amid fragrant plants and healing herbs, the visitor is reminded of the values of the former hospital and the adjoining botanical garden.

History and historical research

The Sint-Elisabeth Hospital consisted of several building ensembles from different periods: the 15th-century infirmary; the 16th-century chapel, rectory and cloister; the almoner’s house; the 19th-century pharmacy — each with its own architectural identity. These many layers were unravelled in extensive historical research by Anneleen Cassiman, which formed the foundation for the design of the site.

A brief summary

The founding of the first hospital — likely located on the cemetery grounds of Our Lady — dates back to the 11th century. Originally operated by laypeople, the institution adopted the Augustinian rule in 1233. Around the same time, it moved to its current location. The new hospital and chapel were consecrated in 1238 by Guiardus of Laon, bishop of Cambrai, and placed under the protection of Saint Elisabeth of Hungary. The oldest surviving buildings today are the 15th-century chapel and the Gothic infirmary, probably dating from 1460–1484.

From 1798 onwards, the hospital came under the management of the Bureau of Civil Almshouses, today’s O.C.M.W. The front building with the main entrance dates from 1836. From 1842, several new wards were built along Leopoldstraat; the pharmacy and adjoining buildings followed in 1847; the large extension on the Sint-Jorispoort side in 1856. Since 2017, the site has been managed by Iret Development, which began restoration that same year in collaboration with AIDarchitecten under the direction of Gerd Van Zundert. The firm Erfgoed en Visie was appointed for the protected and subsidised works.

Discovering

When we began the study of the “Elisabeth site” in the summer of 2017, the ensemble — despite its undeniable historical grandeur — mainly conveyed a musty, outdated and gloomy impression. The complex had become choked by numerous alterations and additions. After a thorough study of the existing condition, a wealth of space and courtyards emerged. The original architecture and interior were stripped of extensions, patch-ups and joinery. It soon became clear that this project would become a sequence of places and moments, each with its own story, dimensions and atmosphere.

The demands of the heritage authorities and the City had to be balanced against the economic feasibility of the project. New programme components (such as the new spa building) required extensive dialogue with both the City and the heritage department.

The existing and protected architectural ensembles were preserved as much as possible in their original character.

Several building volumes were linked with simple yet elegant and light conservatory structures, with detailing based on the original 19th-century hospital “winter garden canopy”. These light additions also created outdoor spaces, optimising the connection with the courtyards and giving the buildings room to “breathe” again. They lend the composition a certain nonchalance and made it possible to integrate new functions and programmes.

Wherever possible, the old buildings were reorganised with respect for their original functions: former kitchens now serve as private dining rooms; in the restored pharmacy, visitors can now find botanical spa products; the infirmary remains a multipurpose space for a wide range of activities; the chapel has been restored and again hosts various desacralised ceremonies. Existing rooms — including those in the cloister and rectory — were rearranged and combined to create contemporary guest rooms. New passages give the ensemble greater flexibility and allow simultaneous use.

New contemporary dormers were introduced to optimise daylight and reveal views of historic towers nearby. New stair cores connect the floors and provide the necessary escape routes for fire safety. The new spa building — an archetype of the “winter garden” — has, as it were, taken root beside the Botanical Garden. With its light conservatory structure and careful attention to materiality, it sits naturally in the heart of the former monastery site. The existing garden wall of the old orangery forms the plinth of the new spa building.

The building’s interior design nods to the experience of traditional and ritual bathing in different cultures and in nature. The aim was to express the same simplicity behind a technically complex, high-performance building. In collaboration with Guy Stockmans of Linears, the gardens were partly redrawn and redeveloped based on old drawings and the existing botanical garden. The uniform clinker paving restores calm and simplicity, while the landscape design reinforces the tranquillity of the ensemble. The garden forms an essential part of the experience, including a new herb garden for the restaurants and a greenhouse for vegetables.

Piecing it together

Today, the Botanic site appears “self-evident”… but it was a Herculean task to bring the old buildings — both structurally and in terms of building physics — up to contemporary standards while preserving simplicity and coherence. Particular attention was given to the integration of all building systems and to acoustics. All required standards — sustainable technologies and thermal comfort, fire safety and accessibility — were integrated almost invisibly into the historic framework. A hotel of this scale and class must operate like a well-oiled machine: deliveries, waste handling, storage, back-of-house… The various buildings are linked — sometimes underground — so that visitors remain unaware of the practical and organisational bustle behind the scenes.

Master builders

This was an exceptionally intensive commission in every respect: during the design and construction process, new phases were repeatedly added; when stripping the buildings, we discovered unexpected heritage qualities and spatialities that we were determined to preserve; and at the same time all puzzle pieces — technical, organisational, budgetary — had to continue fitting together.

This required daily coordination from the architecture team on site or behind the scenes with the engineers for technical follow-up. Flexibility and alertness became key concepts. For nearly four years, five architects worked full-time on the project. The directness of collaboration with the client and the craftsmen brought new relevance to the term “master builder”. That the entire process ran in such good synergy is undoubtedly due to the professionalism and contribution of the client, himself an architect. With architectural training, he consistently chose quality and timeless, sustainable solutions. By continually seeking the right spirit, the client helped to polish a pearl in the heart of the city of Antwerp.

Archives
O.C.M.W. Archives, Sint-Elisabeth Hospital files.
Antwerp City Archives, files MA#893, MA#80648 and plans 697#117-121 (front building), MA#80718 and plans 697#148-154 (infirmaries), building file 18#60557 (new building).
Geudens E. 1869: L’hôpital Ste-Elisabeth d’Anvers à travers les siècles, Annales de l’Académie d’Archéologie de Belgique XVIII, 98–137.
Pais-Minne E., n.d.: 350 jaar gasthuiswezen te Antwerpen, in Liber Memorialis 350 jaar Collegium Medicum Antwerpiense. 25 jaar Geneeskundige dagen te Antwerpen.
Philippen L. J. M. 1938: De overbrenging van het Antwerpsch gasthuis naar het “Alnetum” in 1238, Antwerp.
S.n. 1970: Antwerpen di scone, no. 5.
S.n. [1977]: Catalogus van de kunstvoorwerpen van de kapel, published for the Rubens Year, [Antwerp].