Out of curiosity, Rietveld films visits the yard of the winter circus Mahy in Ghent, to take a look behind the scenes of the big transformation.

The former Mahy garage, also known as the Winter Circus, is located in the center of Ghent. Despite its prime location, the building stood empty for a long time and was neglected for many years. Now, 15 years after 'Sogent', the city development company Ghent, bought the iconic building, the renovation is in full swing. In 2022, the last remaining stone circus building should reopen its doors.

From circus to garage

"In the 19th century, specific buildings for entertainment, including stone circuses, appeared in many cities. Ghent also followed this international trend. In 1885 the so-called "New Cirkus" was built to a design by architect Emile De Weerdt. The building, initially conceived as a horse racecourse with an accompanying ballroom, was eventually inaugurated as a stone circus, where numerous companies gave performances, including during the winter.

In 1920 the building was ravaged by a fierce fire. Only a few parts, such as some outer walls, the stables and the riding school remained standing. These parts were therefore recovered during the construction of the new circus in 1923, designed by architect Jules-Pascal Ledoux.

Shortly after World War II, the Winter Circus was transformed into Ghislain Mahy's garage. In this transformation, the entire circus interior was lost. In its place was a completely new concrete structure with an elaborate system of ramps, which allowed the car to drive all the way to the top. In 1978 the garage closed its doors and the building continued to serve as a depot for vintage cars for another two decades. After that, the building stood virtually empty." - SoGent

Produced by Rietveld Films, an initiative of
Rietveld Projects, to showcase inspiring architecture, design and art.

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