OYO Architects has completed the interior transformation of the historic Wintercircus building in Ghent, covering 4,830 m². Built in 1885, the building functioned as a circus and later as a garage before being preserved and renovated. Today, it has been transformed into a technology and cultural center, realized in partnership with TENT, a consortium of local technology entrepreneurs and the municipality. The project aims to stimulate innovation and community development by creating an environment for interaction between entrepreneurs, researchers, students, creative professionals, and the general public.
At Wintercircus, OYO designed more than 30 workspaces for tech startups, a multifunctional hall, exhibition and conference areas, and two restaurants. Inspired by the building's circus heritage, the design uses warm materials, colors, and textures to create a welcoming and accessible environment. At the heart of the campus is the Arena, a flexible space for events ranging from presentations to art installations, complemented by a mobile neon light installation. The renovation highlights both the monumental character of the building and its adaptability to future needs.
The Start-ups Campus is located around the Arena, with over 30 technology companies on several levels. OYO creates welcoming workspaces with abundant natural light, warm materials, and a vibrant palette of green, yellow, and red on wood and brick. Most of the furniture is second-hand, recycled, or carefully selected locally. On the first floor is the glass-walled Auditorium with over 100 seats—ideal for conferences and presentations, while the ground floor Expo offers a flexible space for events ranging from art exhibitions to fitness classes.
OYO has also designed two dining areas: a sushi restaurant on the first floor and Bar Bougie, a central café opening onto the Arena and located in the former lubricants workshop. The café combines wood and warm lighting with exposed green steel and concrete, striking a balance between cosiness and industrial character. In keeping with Wintercircus' sustainable mission, the studio uses robots in construction and recycles electronic waste and urban elements for new furnishings. This gives the space an eclectic look, where historical heritage intertwines with contemporary design. Revitalized, Wintercircus has become a cultural and technological center that brings together innovation, heritage, and community in the heart of Ghent.
Built in 1885 to a design by architect Emil De Verdt, the New Circus building quickly became known as the Wintercircus because of the performances that took place there all year round. In 1920, a fire destroyed most of the building, but three years later it was restored. After World War II, the building was converted into a car repair shop by Gislen Mai, and the circus interior disappeared, but the building continued to be used until 1978, when it was turned into a depot for vintage cars.
In 2005, the municipal development agency Sogent acquired Wintercircus with plans to integrate it into the new De Krook urban district. The structural renovation was carried out according to a design by the architectural firms BARO and SUMproject. Meanwhile, the cultural significance of the building grew – in 2009, Ghent was recognized by UNESCO as a "City of Music," and in 2018, the city committed to becoming climate neutral by 2050. In 2020, the technology consortium TENT signed a 75-year lease agreement, paving the way for the transformation of Wintercircus into today's technology and cultural center.
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