La Théorie du balcon
The debate on the presence of high-rise constructions within a city centre is too often cut short by simplistic or even demagogic arguments about the ‘human scale’ of a city. In this case, the city is Brussels. The site is located along the Canal, perhaps the only true urban space left in Brussels. The proposal speculates on the bizarre mixture of the high-rise phobia of Brussels and the unrestrained freedom which vertical developments can engender.
The project addresses two issues:
Mixing housing, offices, services, a cinema and a massive civic infrastructure (a water purification plant) into one powerful conglomerate and urban silhouette;
Upgrading the stacking logic by clustering programmes and adding a new ‘ground level’ at a height of +157 m.
The new panoramic ground level (the deck) enables the city’s population services to be located in one grand space, so that at life’s key moments (birth, marriage, death), citizens are granted a larger than life panorama of their capital. On top of the deck rests a small hotel tower, whose scale is reminiscent of today’s ‘towers’ in Brussels. The straightforward tectonics of it all cause a moment of visual doubt, but also offer an instant of urban beauty.
-
Location
Brussels, Belgium
-
51N4E project team
Johan Anrys, Freek Persyn, Peter Swinnen, Bob De Wispelaere
-
51N4E involvement
Design Research
-
Programme
Housing, Offices, Services, Cinema, water purification plant
-
Image credits
51N4E
Projects
- Bougie2024
- Peterbos 92024
- Spartacus2024
- The Former Train Museum2024
- C-Mine Atelier2023
- C-Mine Masterplan2023
- Corridor2022
- Donysite2022
- Grote Markt2022
- Homborch2022
- Luxemburg in Transition2022
- Tous Ensemble2022
- Archiweek2021
- StamEuropa2021
- Book Building2020
- ICC2020
- La Ville Hospitalière2020
- Noord Zuid Limburg2020
- Ontharding Redingenhof2020
- Victoria2020
- ZIN2020
- ASIAT2019
- Bpost2019
- Viaduct Gentbrugge2019
- D'Ieteren2019
- Fly Over2019
- Over the Ring2019
- Alvéoles Saint-Nazaire2018
- Ferme du Chaudron2018
- Lab North2018
- Lage Weg2018
- Lerend Landschap2018
- Citroën, the Soft Museum2017
- Huis van de Media2017
- Kaaitheater2017
- Skanderbeg Square2017
- Tri Postal2017
- De Lork2016
- Falconpoort2016
- Grootkapel2016
- IABR2016
- Maritiem Park2016
- Palaiseau2016
- Recypark2016
- Regatta2016
- Room in the City2016
- Suitsupply2016
- TID Tower2016
- Atelier Deep Geothermia2015
- COD2015
- Labo XX2014
- Thurgauerstrasse2014
- BUDA Art Factory2012
- Huis aan‘t Laar2012
- OCMW Nevele2012
- Speelpleinstraat2012
- Lyon Part Dieu2011
- Test Site Istanbul2011
- 50.000 Logements2010
- Brussels 20402010
- C-Mine2010
- Arteconomy2009
- Kantoor +2008
- Lana Bridge2008
- Europetrol2006
- Lamot2005
- Noka Blok2005
- WET 892005
- La Théorie du balcon2004
- Groeningemuseum2003
- Masterplan Farmhouse2001
- Robin Oratoire