Van Praet

The Van Praet area is located between different entities at the edge of Brussels: Neder-Over-Heembeek, a former municipality and now a neighbourhood of the City of Brussels, the Royal Domain and the productive strip of industries along the canal. The site represents a link between these different and disconnected realities, but it is currently perceived as a peripheral and empty area. Because of its potential, the area has been included in a master plan known as ZIR 4, developed by Plus Office. 51N4E’s involvement is twofold: the development and coordination of three zones of the master plan, together with ATAMA and V+, and the design and execution of one of the buildings, located on reclaimed marshland.

The project aims to transform these leftover spaces and develop a continuous landscape between the new tram station of Beliris and the centre of the commune. It focuses not only on the type of architecture, but also on the type of open spaces to be developed. This proposition takes a stance against the given framework by densifying the built programme to reduce its footprint and create additional surface for a generous green space. The buildings and the landscape are developed as complementary elements, with part of the site located on a natural marshland, where the water will be maintained to encourage a biologically diverse landscape.

Another ambition relates to the future-oriented character of the master plan, through resilient yet adaptive buildings. The plan offers flexibilityfor different uses over time, providing a sustainable basis for future developments while creating a qualitative and dynamic environment that works with or without the following phases of the master plan, as the project is in fact only the first phase in the development of ZIR.

These large-scale ambitions are also reflected at the smaller scale of the “marsh building”, housing a nursery with an associated programme and 29 residential units. The building is designed to embrace the landscape while defining a face to the boulevard, taking the shape of an urban entrance to the neighbourhood and the future park of the marsh.

The building allows connections between the different programmes and the surrounding areas, while maintaining a sense of intimacy. The space is parcelled out while exploring certain “in-between” shared typologies, such as a multi-purpose room to be shared by the residents of the apartments, as well as communal gardens.