Former Grand Magasins de la Bourse is located in the centre of Brussels. The building lost most of its glory over the years. With this project we want to seize the opportunity and make a transition in thinking about the city in a key location in Brussels. It’s our ambition to restore the way the building is perceived and make it an urban attraction point.

The program we chose for this project is one that is locally embedded, where different forms of living and working alternate and overlap. We consciously want to offer a programming that is complementary to the traditional functions aimed at visitors or tourists, and assumes social responsibility. The program is a mix of functions, realised by a collaboration with different social partners: cohabs for cohousing, Silversquare for coworking, ULB for university education, research and student homes. Apartments are located at the top floors. The roof will be used by Brussels cityfarmer Love & Peas to grow vegetables for those willing to pick them.

This mix of functions will make the building an urban attraction point. The lively plinth, which integrates visibly into the city, provides a large exchange with the pedestrian area. It is designed as a covered square, an offshoot of the public space, which integrates similar functions such as meeting, exchange and relaxation.