Utopia, the Library and Academy for Performing Arts, has recently opened in it's new building designed by KAAN Architecten. Located in Aalst, Belgium, the brick structure incorporates a historic school building from 1880 embedded within. 

Taking its cue from Thomas More’s acclaimed book "Utopia" (first printed by a citizen of Aalst), KAAN Architecten's building features an entrance located on an intimate square between the reading café and the auditorium. 

Moving through tall, wide openings in the brickwork the structure opens to several thick concrete floors that appearing to float. Hanging at varying heights, each level features bookshelves and reading tables, while looking into the atrium and towards the brick façade of the pre-existing building. 

The library features a bookcase approximately 37 feet high stretching towards the ceiling, filled with books donated by each Aalst resident. Bookcases are pushed up against concrete discs which allow the floors to cantilever out without extra support. It appears as if each concrete structure is supported by books. 

Apart from the ground floor auditorium, the Academy for Performing Arts is housed on the first two floors, flanking the reading atrium. 

Within the new building, the ballet room, rehearsal studios and teaching spaces have windows as tall and wide as the rooms themselves. 

The original wood floors have been replaced with suspended concrete floors in order to accommodate the varying acoustics of a library and performing arts within the same building. 

"Utopia" has achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating with locally sourced materials and labour, as well as low-energy machines used for construction. Solar panels, geothermal heating, and LED lighting have been integrated in the design along with reuse of originally removed bricks. 

Location: Utopia 1, Aalst (Belgium)
Architect: Kees Kaan, Vincent Panhuysen, Dikkie Scipio
Project team: Bas Barendse, Tjerk de Boer, Sebastiaan Buitenhuis, Sebastian van Damme, Paolo Faleschini, Raluca Firicel, Narine Gyulkhasyan, Joost Harteveld, Walter Hoogerwerf, Martina Margini, Giuseppe Mazzaglia, Kevin Park, Giulia Rapizza

Client: Autonoom Gemeentebedrijf Stadsontwikkeling Aalst (AGSA)

Design phase: March 2016 - May 2018
Construction phase: August 2016 - May 2018

GFA: 8309 sqm + 235 sqm (bike parking)

Main contractor: Groep Van Roey NV, Rijkevorsel (Belgium)
Advisor construction: UTIL Struktuurstudies, Schaarbeek (Belgium)
Advisor technical installations: Studiebureau R. Boydens NV, Brugge Sint-Michiels (Belgium)
Water & electrical installations: Studiebureau R. Boydens NV, Brugge Sint-Michiels (Belgium)
Fire control: ABT, Delft (Netherlands)
Acoustics: Tractebel Engineering SA, Brussels (Belgium)
Sustainability: Studiebureau R. Boydens NV, Brugge Sint-Michiels (Belgium)