The site of this
project is located rue de l’Epée in 1000 Brussels.
It belongs to the C.P.A.S. of Brussels for the
most part and the rest is the property of the City of Brussels. The surroundings will also benefit
from the renovation of the neighbouring buildings (the “15 Minimes” complex)
and landscaping of their grounds, as well as the renewal of the street (rue des
Minimes) and the Brueghel the Elder
Square, scheduled for the near future.
This new
development, including social housing, a childcare centre and a welfare office
is laid out like a hamlet to favour social and human relations.
The welfare office
is part of a generous scheme: its role includes reception of people in
distressed circumstances who need to feel respected and comforted. The fact that
a childcare centre is available in the same premises reinforces the symbolic
value of the project. At the same time, given its function and location, the
project should steer away from any lavishness.
The building of
the welfare office will be shaped like a small cylindrical tower (double ground
floor + five levels, the top level set back from the façade). The outside
diameter will be as small as possible (10.60 m) to blend with the size of the lots in
the neighbourhood. This bold solution is in fact a reasonable one, since the
cylindrical shape and the resulting lighting reduce the visual effect of the
project.
The design of the
building also responds to objective reasons: it creates a space that acts as a
buffer with regard to the listed historical building on the corner of the
square and, as a study of the shadows cast by the building shows, a lower but
longer building would create shadow zones that would be more detrimental to the
vicinity.
The zone under the
pillars of the tower is a patio acting as an outdoor reception area leading to
the entrance of the tower as well as of the Childcare centre.
The storeys in the
tower house the various medical premises and social workers’ offices. They are
accessible via an outdoor staircase and two lifts. A large conference room with
a panoramic view is located on the top floor.
All offices are
equipped with 2 doors to allow the social workers to leave the room if they
should have problems with a "client".
The vertical
circulation core is a visual link between the project and the nearby building
in the “15 Minimes” complex.
The use of
materials in the building should express certain modesty. The exterior bearing
walls are isolated and covered with simple bolted metal plate (in stainless
steel for example). The inner walls are made of rough or faced masonry. Door
and window frames are in light-coloured wood.
The childcare
centre is a low building (ground floor + 1) erected at the back of the lot. The
building has a curved shape, full of surprises and fun, taking advantage of the
circular manoeuvring area in the street that gives emergency vehicles access to
neighbouring buildings.
The dormitories in
the childcare centre are located on the ground floor, using the nest and grotto
concepts. The technical premises are in the basement. A ramp runs from the
ground floor to the roof, fitted with a covered terrace and a hanging garden,
and used for psychomotor exercises. The rooftop garden and playground,
protected from the wind by a veil of metal fabric, offers, a great feeling of
security.
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