Master plan for the site

The Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) is not just a museum, but also a world-renowned scientific institute. The entire institute is spread out over seven buildings in the park. Not just the museum building, but the whole museum site will be closed for a thorough overhaul.



The first step in the renovation was to draw up an overall master plan taking the entire site into consideration. The park, the NCSR building, the Colonial palace, the Director’s pavilion and the Stanley pavilion are all included in this draft. All the current investments are constantly tested in relation to this long term overall master plan.

In order to conserve the collections and archives in the very best conditions, in keeping with present day standards, a new building is needed. Currently spread out over six buildings, the collection and archives will be housed in a new collection tower. The scientific departments, which are spread out over four different buildings, will eventually be housed in the National Centre for Scientific Research (NCSR) that, alongside the Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre (CODA-CERVA), also has a wing dedicated to the museum’s scientific departments. Administrative services, offices, laboratories and libraries will be relocated here. The Colonial palace will regain its public-oriented function as a congress centre, multimedia library and reception room.

The next step in the renovation involved the elaboration of concrete plans for the museum building. This is the first phase to be accomplished.
> read more about the renovation of the museum building.