Museum aan de Stroom (MAS, Antwerp) is a best practice of architourism promotion
December 2023
I visited the MAS 5 or 6 times, and every time I enjoyed it. No visit to Antwerp without a visit to MAS. On this website a tour Antwerp – Lille – Lens will be presented soon. Something may be added; MAS is also a best practice regarding architecture tourism.
About MAS architecture, as presented on the MAS website: The MAS is situated in the old harbour district and is a sixty-meter-high tower of stacked exhibition galleries. Each level is rotated ninety degrees with respect to the last, producing a spiralling route around the galleries, a vertical promenade from the public square to the roof. Outside the galleries, vistas across the contemporary city unfold through the undulating glass, while stories of the city’s history are told within.
MAS is more than a museum. Visit Antwerp says: ”In the permanent and changing exhibitions, you will discover numerous stories about Antwerp, the river, the port, and the world. Be guided up the escalators of the promenade and discover a different exhibition on each floor. Visiting the MAS is quite an experience. As you explore the building from bottom to top, you can enjoy a different view on each floor. For example, more of Luc Tuymans' hidden artwork "Dead Skull" will gradually be revealed. And the highlight, of course, is the roof of the MAS. On the rooftop terrace, you can take in the entire city, the river, and the port. That is what makes this an unmissable apotheosis of your visit.”
MAS adds: “In the MAS, the Boulevard with 6-metre-high glass panels will guide you to the various museum halls. You will encounter a new tale about Antwerp, the river, and the port on every storey. The collection boasts over 600,000 museum pieces. Permanent and temporary exhibitions offer a refreshing look at the city and centuries of contact with the world. At the top, on the tenth floor, you will enjoy a 360-degree panorama of the city, the port, and the river.”
MAS was an early development in a waterfront regeneration district, it is close to other beautiful modern architecture, like the Port House, the building of the Port Authority designed by Zaha Hadid Architects.
Every year 600.000 people visit MAS. Compared to two other museums with modern architecture, the 770.000 visitors to the enormous Musée de Confluences in tourist city Lyon, and 400.000 to the famous Louvre Lens (close to Lille), this is a marker of success. What Musée des Confluences tells about its architecture is design and technical architect-talk. Louvre Lens does better.
MAS is a best practice in including architecture in cultural city tourism.
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MAS integrates its beautiful architectural complex, art, culture, history, and stories. MAS’ building is a public space and the big open space around the building invite people to rest, meet or picnic.
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MAS presents its architecture as a multisensory experience, connects things to see and things to do and gives depth through its storytelling. This is quite different from the usual approach of modern architecture as something ‘to see’. MAS does not orient itself to architects, but to all visitors interested in culture who want to enjoy the place.
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MAS is more than a museum, it is a cultural centre and offers a variety of activities to its diverse visitors, both locals and city tourists.
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MAS’ architecture relates to Antwerp’s history and identity. The 60-metre-high MAS tower consists of stacked spaces, based on the 19th century warehouses that were typical for the port district. It also talks about the international character – what the ships from all over the world brought to Antwerp, and what happens at present.
Hopefully you'll enjoy MAS like I do, there is much to be discovered in the architecture and culture.