Here’s an escapade well worth the detour. How about challenging your perception of reality with a church where matter seems to fade away? In Borgloon, deep in the Belgian countryside, you’ll find the little-known Transparent Church, a unique creation in cut steel. Designed by a duo of Belgian architects, it offers a fascinating interplay between solidity and lightness. Why does this monument attract so much curiosity? Where exactly is it located? When did it come into being? How does this architectural trompe-l’œil work? Bruxelles Secrète invites you to discover this architectural treasure known as “Reading Between the Lines”.
The transparent church of Borgloon: a masterpiece of delicate architecture
In the heart of Limburg, the transparent church of Borgloon astonishes with its airy, minimalist style. Designed in 2007 by the Gijs Van Vaerenbergh collective, it is made up of a hundred finely cut steel plates stacked one on top of the other. But make no mistake: behind this impression of lightness, the church weighs a total of 30 tons!
Conceived as part of a sculpture competition run by a nearby museum (Z33’s Z-OUT project), the transparent Reading Between the Lines church was conceptualized following a laser scan of a local church, which yielded both digital and physical plans. Against all odds, the church is up to 10 metres high! Surprisingly, the arrangement of the metal plates means that, in the event of rain, you’ll remain fully protected beneath the church.
It’s this optical illusion that catches the light and changes according to the angle of view, fascinating visitors and photographers alike. The work does not rely on the transparency of glass, but rather on a play of volumes and voids. It invites us all to immerse ourselves in an atmosphere that is both modern and spiritual, where the boundary between nature and construction becomes blurred.
A poetic visit to the heart of Belgian Limburg
To visit this transparent church is to enter into a dialogue with light, space and surrounding nature. Depending on the light, the building sometimes seems almost invisible, offering a unique experience against the rural landscape. This atypical place renews the way of conceiving a sacred space, far from traditional cumbersomeness.
Accessible by car from Brussels in around 1h10, this destination will appeal to modern art enthusiasts and lovers of peaceful strolls alike. The church is part of a cultural itinerary around Borgloon, a region renowned for its orchards and green paths. A real favorite for those seeking to combine architectural discovery and nature tourism in Belgium!