Disciplinary House AR

Long, dark corridors, bars, small cells, creaking doors, barely any daylight, overgrown vegetation, graffiti by tormented prisoners, the hollow echo of footsteps, and lots of pigeons. The Vilvoorde Penitentiary was originally a reformatory for vagrants, beggars, and young thieves; in popular parlance, it was known as “the correctional facility.” From 1871 onward, it became a military institution and remained so for about 100 years. The Tuchthuis has a rich history of stories about forced labor, overcrowding, arson, escapes, and a famous architect accused of fraud.

Tuchthuis AR is an exhibition that uses augmented reality to bring the fascinating stories and architectural structures of the Tuchthuis to life. Seven emerging artists were selected through an open call to explore the building and tell its story alongside curators Lucas Dewulf and Jannes Lambrecht. The result is a multidisciplinary exhibition where augmented reality engages in dialogue with architecture, anecdotes, heritage, and art.

Start the tour and then scan the AR tags with the ErfgoedApp

📍 Vilvoorde Penitentiary