Constructed between 1928 and 1931 in art-deco style and with a frame of 3500 tons of steel, the tower is a true architectural gem. Various famous architects, among them Emil van Averbeke, Jan Van Hoenacker and Jos Smolderen, were involved in the construction of the monument. With its original height of 87,5 m, the Farmers’ Tower even was the first skyscraper in Europe.
The tower was constructed on the occasion of the World Exhibition in 1930 by the Middenkredietbank, who mainly managed the savings from farmers and the Farmer’s Union. This is why the tower obtained its nickname ‘Boerentoren’. The Antwerp icon later became property of Kredietbank and KBC, whose logo adorns the top of the tower.
None other than world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind will transform the iconic tower into a veritable cultural tower. Libeskind’s design unites art, functionality, ecology and structure while integrally preserving the original construction. This exceptional project will transform the Farmers’ Tower into a culturally infused place where visitors can enjoy art, architecture, nature and the city. The icing on the cake is the 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton, which will find a permanent home in the tower.