CORTENBERGH 120
LOCATION
Brussels, Belgium
CLIENT
Henderson Global Investors
PARTNERS
Heinle Wischer und Partners
ARTIST
-
PROJET
2008 - 2010
CONSTRUCTION
2010 - 2011
AREA
5,500 sqm
CONTEXT
Offices
SETTING
city centre
The building located at 120 avenue de Cortenbergh, built in 1974, consists of eight floors above ground and 3 levels of car parks. The street frontage, the ground floor and the upper floors underwent a previous renovation in 1996. The current project aims to improve the appearance and the occupancy, performance and operating conditions of the building. On the ground floor and first floor, the street frontage is 'restyled', enhancing the aesthetic appearance and access to the building. A more comfortable, brighter entrance hall is created, taking advantage of the greater height of the vestibule. The finishing and toilets on these floors are also renovated, as well as on the office floors. The courtyard and garden space inside the islet is re-designed. In addition to a significant improvement of biodiversity and generous areas devoted to plants, it is more pleasant for visitors to the building to look at, and they can enjoy various possible uses of the new wood deck. Finally, the 7th and 8th floors had some limitations, as well as disadvantages of access and use. They were indeed treated as a duplex with a staircase in the centre of the office floors, topped by a south-facing canopy. The canopy, installed in 1996, did not have a sufficient floor area and its inclination meant that it was not a high quality workspace. The idea for this volume is to return to the initial situation of the 1974 project and create an accessible, luxurious outdoor patio accessible with a marked improvement in energy consumption and comfort. The terrace on the 8th floor overlooking the garden offers a panoramic view of the city.
'BREEAM Very Good' certification was granted to the renovation.