Designing the next chapter of an Antwerp icon
The Boerentoren has stood at the heart of Antwerp since 1931. As Europe’s first skyscraper, it represents ambition, innovation, and a deep connection to the city’s cultural identity. Katoen Natie’s ambitious redevelopment will breathe new life into this protected monument, introducing a public rooftop garden, a museum showcasing the Phoebus Foundation collection, panoramic views from the 29th floor, and a mix of event, commercial, and cultural spaces.
At Humanics Collective, we’ve been engaged to evaluate the evolving designs for the visitor experience. Our role is to ensure that spatial flow, orientation, and environmental cues work together to support an experience that is intuitive, inclusive, and rewarding for all users.
As this is ‘Work in Progress’ we cannot yet show you the new design of the building, or the work we have been doing with the architects.
Project
Boerentoren, Antwerp
Client
Katoen Natie Group
Collaborators
Studio Libeskind
ELD Architects
ION Real Estate Development
Location
Antwerp
Size
Project Build Cost
Focus
The way people experience space is rarely accidental. It’s shaped by design decisions—some deliberate, others unconscious—that influence how we move, behave, and feel in an environment. At Humanics Collective, we created the Spatial Experience Framework to make those decisions more intentional.
This framework helps us evaluate and improve environments by focusing on three core principles:
1. Ease of orientation and navigation
People shouldn’t have to work hard to figure out where to go. We assess how buildings support intuitive movement through:
Legibility: How easily people can read and understand the environment’s layout
Spatial logic: Whether the structure itself helps or hinders movement
Environmental cues: How visual and spatial elements guide people without the need for constant signage
We look at lines of sight, layout complexity, entrance clarity, and the clarity of destination zones. A space should help you know where you are, where you can go next, and what to expect when you get there.
2. Welcoming and inclusive design
Feeling safe, comfortable, and confident in a space isn’t a luxury—it’s a basic requirement. We apply inclusive design thinking to ensure environments support everyone, regardless of age, ability, cultural background, or familiarity with the setting.
We assess:
Accessibility: Are physical and cognitive access needs considered?
Environmental affordances: Do features support a wide range of behavioural goals?
Familiarity: Are there elements people can recognise and rely on?
We also consider emotional tone. Are people welcomed in, or pushed away? Are they given the freedom to explore or forced to conform to a rigid path? These factors shape how at ease people feel—and whether they want to come back.
3. Enriching experiences
Once basic needs are met, people want experiences that feel meaningful. This doesn’t always mean dramatic architecture or spectacle. It might mean a sense of discovery, a moment of quiet reflection, or a view that offers a new perspective.
We consider:
User diversity: Are different expectations and visit styles accommodated?
Engagement points: Are there moments of clarity, interest, or delight built in?
Memory and identity: Does the space connect to its purpose and context in a way people will remember?
We segment users into relevant categories (e.g. first-time vs repeat, time-poor vs time-rich, solo vs group) and map out what success looks like for each.
Spatial Experience Framework
The Spatial Experience Framework gives us a way to step back and see the bigger picture. It helps clients and design teams ask better questions, make more grounded decisions, and shape environments that work—for the people who use them.
It also reflects the way we work at Humanics Collective: bringing together our services in environmental psychology, wayfinding strategy, inclusive design, user experience, and evaluation to form a cohesive, people-centred approach. Each service contributes a piece of the puzzle, but it's the interplay between them that creates truly effective spaces. This integration is core to how we think, and how we deliver.
