Located right on the docks of Antwerp stands the impressive Felix Warehouse. Originally built in 1858 by architect Felix Pauwels as a seven-storey, white-plastered warehouse, a fire in 1861 destroyed the top storey. The building was rebuilt—reusing much of its rubble—as a six-storey structure with a wide central corridor under a glass roof, connecting Godefriduskaai and Oudeleeuwenrui.
Initially, it stored colonial goods like sugar, coffee, tobacco, grain, cheese, and wine. When port activity moved north, the warehouse fell into disuse. The city acquired it, secured its monument status, and considered plans for a museum or school, but those ideas stalled.
Finally, in 2006, the Felix Archive (FelixArchief) opened its doors here: concrete archival "containers" fill the floors, and the top level features a warm oak roof with skylights. Now the central corridor is a public passage with cafés and shops.
Sources. Story: Source Story: https://aviewoncities.com/antwerp/felix-pakhuis', 'Source Story: https://www.librarybuildings.eu/library/st-felix-warehouse/', 'Source Story: https://www.amazingbelgium.be/2020/10/the-felix-warehouse-in-antwerp.html', 'Source Story: https://robbrechtendaem.com/projects/st-felix-warehouse', 'Source Story: https://slowtravelantwerp.com/en/sint-felix-warehouse/'] Photos: Source Photo: Sandra Fauconnier, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
