New uses for monasteries
This is not the first time in history that a decline in the number of persons entering monasteries and convents has resulted in disused buildings. In some cases, they continued to be used by small groups of clerics. The design of these buildings, usually based on a central cloister, makes them suitable for a range of other uses. In many cases, the architectonic quality of a conversion is not very high. This is because conversions are often seen as ‘doing up’, while the wrong approach can have disastrous consequences for the future use of a historic building. Nevertheless, Flanders has some interesting examples that show that with a little imagination a country's rich heritage can become part of its future too.
The chapel of devotion in Leuven's Vlamingenstraat is an inspiring example. The baroque octagonal central structure with its dome was designed by Joris Nempe and consecrated in 1705. In 1873 the chapel became the property of the Franciscans, who added a monastery complex. After the Second World War, however, the number of monks declined sharply. In 1987 the Catholic University of Leuven acquired the complex to house its Catholic Documentation and Research Centre, kadoc. The cloisters are used for exhibitions, the cells have become offices and workrooms, and the refectory and kitchen have been converted into a reading room. The chapel, which is a protected building, is used for small concerts or academic meetings.
The city of Ghent has a rich patrimony of monasteries. The former Dominican monastery near St Michael's Church had become a run-down residential building. In 1963 the complex was acquired by the University of Ghent and, after thorough restoration, became the venue for official university functions. The Abbey of St Peter, also in Ghent, was given a new lease of life as a cultural centre, and has functioned as a kunsthalle for temporary exhibitions since the 1960s. The Abbey even provided a suitable venue for the European Summit in October 2001.
The Caermers monastery is part of the compact medieval street pattern of Ghent's Patershol quarter. The monastery consisted of two quadrangles and was virtually derelict. The imposing two-aisle church had been used for some time to store theatrical scenery. The restoration was completed in 2000 and the building is now the Centre for Art and Culture of the province of East Flanders. One of the quadrangles is intended for private residential use, and this part of the monastery has yet to be restored.
The Poortackere monastery at Oude Houtlei in Ghent is a large neo-Gothic complex. The religious use of this site dates back to 1278. In 1999 the architect Romain Berteloot converted the complex into a hotel and restaurant and venue for seminars. The monastery, tucked away behind other buildings in the heart of the city, is a quiet, peaceful place. The diversity of its many rooms allows it to accommodate a wide range of activities. The neo-Gothic chapel, for example, provides an ideal setting for small concerts.