Faculty of Architecture Uliege - Outremeuse

Faculty of Architecture ULiege - Outremeuse

In 2000, the former Fonck barracks were taken over by the École supérieure des Arts Saint-Luc Liège and the Institut supérieur d'Architecture Saint-Luc. The location quickly became one of the campuses in the city center, where groups of art students meet. The campus is shared with the Faculty of Architecture of ULiège, which promotes collaboration and meetings. Under the direction of Eugène Moreau from the AUSE architectural group, the large, initial spaces are respected but reconditioned to fully perform their educational tasks.

Specific studios have been designed to allow the student to work to maximum effect, such as the studios for design, engraving, screen printing, lithography, painting or sculpture. There is a cafeteria with 400 seats, administrative buildings, a concierge, large exhibition or workshop spaces and a library.

The site of the school campus was originally a priory mentioned in texts as early as 1231. It was affiliated with the French Order of the Val des Écoliers and was then established on a small island formed by the Meuse and one of the many arms of the Ourthe. The campus still possesses the rare Gothic architecture of a church, with forecourt (14th century) and a beautiful old chapter house, which serves as an exhibition space at the school.

In the 17th century, the priory became a monastery for schoolchildren with many changes, such as the monumental staircase from the 18th century that now leads to the secretariat. During the revolution of 1789 it was secularized and converted into a field hospital with barracks. The many horse rings in the walls and the pits carved out of stone are reminders of the military past.

A new building for the architecture faculty in Outremeuse
Through an international architectural competition, the design of the Brussels architects OFFICE KGDVS was selected for a new building of 3600 m2 with educational activities (workshops), research and administration of the ULiège faculty of architecture. The design of the new building is the result of a close dialogue with the various residents of the Fonck campus. It is also intended as a showcase and a project that promotes exchanges with teachers and architecture students throughout the process, like a full-scale studio.