ecobuild.brussels had the honour of organising an afternoon of visits and seminars for a Japanese delegation led by the architect Kengo Kuma, considered to be one of the most important contemporary Japanese architects.
hub.brussels, in collaboration with the Belgian Embassy in Japan, welcomed Doyo Kai business association to Brussels to highlight two iconic renovation projects in the field of sustainable construction.
First stop was ING Marnix, the bank’s iconic headquarters on the inner ring road. The renovation of the enormous modernist office complex by the American architect Gordon Bunshaf (of the New York firm SOM) aims to answer the question : is it possible to not only limit the building’s s impact on the environment but also to go as far beyond as to regenerate it? This delicate mission has been entrusted to the architectural firms A2M and Moreno.
Next on our program was Royale Belge which sits on boulevard du Souverain like a contemporary castle. Owed to architects René Stapels and Pierre Dufau, Royale Belge is a bold and daring example of the 60’s luxurious corporate architecture. The 40 000 m2 building is up for a new challenge today: to meet contemporary requirements without losing its heritage value. Imagined and designed by Caruso St John Architects and Bovenbouw Architectuur, the new Royale Belge is being executed and delivered in collaboration with DDS+.
By visiting these emblematic projects and making contact with the other companies present, the Japanese delegation was able to discover first-hand how the Brussels region has developed unique expertise in the energy-efficient renovation of heritage buildings.
First of all, we would like to thank the members of ecobuild.brussels, Aline Branders and Sebastian Moreno-Vacca from the A2M architectural firm and Didier Peremans from the DDS+ architectural firm for their enthusiasm and professionalism in sharing these projects. And let’s not forget Isabelle Grippa, CEO of hub.brussels, Antoine Evrard, Belgium’s new ambassador to Japan, and Ans Persoons, Brussels’ new Secretary of State for Town Planning, Foreign Trade and International Relations, for their presence and support.
