A peek on the future Schuman Station

It has been a while since the last post, but I’ve got plenty of new ideas to post!

I’d like to start with a first brief preview on the metamorphosis of the Schuman station in Brussels. This station actually situated behind the Berlaymont Building will be extended to be one of the largest main subway stations in town. The station will serve the existing train station, the renovated subway station and the new train station that is nowdays being built under the rue de la Loi / Wetstraat, between the Berlaymont Building and the Residence Palace (near the Schuman Square). The new station will be situated at the end (start) of the brand new RER-rail tunnel Schuman-Josaphat. The platforms of the new RER-station will rest upon the existing subway station in order to create a higly inter-modal junction.

From an architectural point of view, this new complex aims to pay a lot of attention to the practical organization and the incidence of light in order to provide a comfortable way of transfer between the new RER/GEN suburb railway system, the subway system and the inter-city train system. Remarkable is the new glass roof that will flank the exit of the tunnel used by cars and that actually attracts daylight into the subway station.

The subway station, a realization of “W.J. & M.C. Van Campenhout” will shortly be overhauled and will incorporate both subway and trains in the same space.

The information used for this article comes from the newsletter “GEN-krant” edited by the NMBS/SNCB-BELIRIS.

Thurn & Taxis update

Computer image courtesy of Ateliers LION, architectes & urbanistes, Paris.

Some time passed since the latest update on the Thurn & Taxis site development in Brussels. This ancient industrial site close to the city centre harboured once the Belgian Royal Warehouses. Due to the opening of European borders and the evolution of transport, the site was put for sale in the late 80’s and became abandoned little by little.

An early development project at the beginning of the year 2000 proposed “Music City”. This was a project that foreseed the reconversion of the Royal Depots into a huge concert hall. As far as I remember there were concerns on the roof structure that wasn’t protected yet back then. The project met with lots of opposition and got abandoned.

In 2001, Robelco and Lease Invest mounted a joined venture named T&T. The hunting for a new development was open. They attracted study and design teams to effect a thorough feasability study. And today we know the results of that study. The picture below shows a rendering picture containing some early lines of force for the developement of the site. Basically, nothing will happen there at all! It’s just a 13 in a dozen drawing with some greenery fields – call it “a parc”. A pity they did not portray the cows and sheep…

The humble tower at the upper south of the site (upper right) is nothing but a down toning of the ambitious visions of specialized teams around well known architecture critics. Well – honestly – it’s not from a big “promotor” that we should expect architectural statements – at the utmost some modern commercial rubbish. That’s why I already proclaim the Brussel’s Tour & Taxis / Thurn & Tassis site tis decade’s flop!

Comments are welcome…

The iPhone in Brussels

It was rumored for a certain time in different Belgian newspapers, and here’s the proof; the iPhone is for sale in at least one Brussel’s phone shop. In a corner between tons of different phone models I found this bare beauty. Price to pay : 995 Euros!

Probably they solved a simple problem in arithmetic: A return ticket Brussels / New York City (405€), a hotel stay (100€) and a cosy restaurant dinner in Little Italy, say 95€. Next, a stop down the Apple Store’s glass cube on Fifth Avenue for a magic box of iPhone; 399$. The vendor would have some 100€ of pocket money paid by their boss. But it seems to me to be more likely that they shipped some pretty greyish specimen of the iPhone giving themselves some fine gratuity for this holiday season.I didn’t feel myself quite excited – actually this specimen was stored behind glass in a plain show-case. Crazy people that felt the urge to spend 1000€ buying themselves this pretty gadget; feel free to comment!

( This post also appeared on www.brusselblogt.be )

The photo mystery…

To my great surprise I found this photograph on the brunofm programme’s blog. The author did it’s very best to camouflage the origin of the picture; saturation and contrast were adjusted and the image’s frame nicely cropped. Especially look at the white stripes of cloud and the shades of pink and orange below the clouds, they really are the same, as is the perspective. Check out my original photograph, taken last month:

Now, not that I care that much – I’m not a professional photographer – but a small mail or a notice I would have appreciated.

So, my question towards you, readers : Do you often take photo’s from the web, without realizing who made them? I think we all do… Other comments ( on this photograph ) are also welcome!

Schweitzer Square Blog

Since I joined B612associates last week, I was working on the project of the Schweitzer Square renewal in Brussels. Wheather you live in Berchem (Brussels) or elsewhere, you probably have already seen some press releases on the project.

In this post I would like to make you aware that we at B612 mounted a blog which contains the latest information on the project. The main purpose of this blog is to encourage the participation of all different groups involved in the square’s renewal. Next monday, 22 september, we organize some workshops together with YOTA. The workshops are open for all inhabitants and commercants in Berchem. You’re all invited. Find out more on the programme at http://www.b612.be/schweitzer/

Design September 2007

This month Design September programs a series of events on the theme of design, held in various places around the capital of Belgium between the 9th and 30th September.

The challenge is to create synergies and bridges between the various independent and active organizations concerned with design by offering them a platform and showcase on a national scale and beyond the borders of the country.

Design September consists of various exhibitions, open days and special events and starts with a triptych of exhibitions about the design icons Eero Saarinen (link) and the Eames couple (link), and about the Vienna Secession Years in Brussels (link). Also programmed are the official opening of the Cityscape by the Belgian designer Arne Quinze (cityscape.be) on September 14th, and some lectures at Flagey (flagey.be) like the one on September 20th by Alain Berteau, the Belgian design king that created products for companies such as BULo, Montis and Fange, or a lecture by the Paris based Jakob+MacFarlane about their most recent projects, including a new Brussels building complex.

Personally you will find myself at the re-opening of the so called Parckdesign, an exhibition on the results of a competition for innovative urban furniture at the Jardins du Fleuriste near the Atomium in Brussels. Among these designs, no more than 46 Belgian entries! Another of my personal favourites is the Designer’s Open Doors weekend on 15 and 16 September for which famous and less famous Belgian designers open their workshops and boutiques.

- View the programme at designseptember.be

- Read more in the special issue of Weekend Knack (appears on September 12th, together with Knack)

(This post is written by Francisvdb, and cross-posted on Behive)

Royal Crown Hotel Brussels: “looknzoom”

“Shhhhh….. Can you keep a secret?”

The title of their campaign makes me believe my article won’t be very propriate. But since it concerns the make-over of the Brussels Royal Crown Hotel, I might harm that supposition.

The hotel, situated in the Koningsstraat/Rue Royale in the city centre of Brussels, right next to the Botanical Gardens, had been subject of renovation for the last few months, if not a lot longer now. The exterior walls were dressed in a sleek flower-print which gave the pale wall a fresh touch. And now, the hotel reveals its inside project, for which this stylish outside decoration seemed a foretoken.

Within the next few weeks, the traditional seventies interior will give place to a brand new, bright, and modern inside. The lobby and reception have already been transformed into an attractive, bright space. But these days, no more than 30 artists are painting gigantic 13.5sqm wall paintings on the walls of each of the 307 rooms. The artists are students, graduates and postgraduates from the ELIA (European League of Institutes of the Arts) member institutions. In a cooperation between the league and the hotel, they mounted a project, called “Bloom!”, in which each room can be painted and decorated by a different (student) artist. Students from over 30 countries will be put up and supported in a logistic and in a creative way. Registrations on their website are still open, so it seems to me that the process of renovation will last some more weeks; some hundred walls are painted for now.

Fot those out there who’d like to visit our capital; the only way to see the rooms for yourself is to book a night at the Royal Crown Hotel, which name will be subject of change later on this year. A website with pictures of the rooms will be available soon, for those who’d prefer a hostel. In the meanwhile they’ve put up a teaser website at www.looknzoom.com

sources: Knack Weekend/Design News, Royal Crown Hotel and looknzoom.

(This post is written by Francisvdb, and cross-posted on Behive – a webmagazine on Belgian Culture)

Ontdek je plekje

This weekend was a good time for some pictures of unknown places. Everyone went to Brussels Beach, so I didn’t find anyone here. Where in Brussels did I take this picture?Also appeared on: Trackback Address 

My 10 favourite Brussels restaurants

Visiting Belgium only for its nice cuisine is an excuse that’s good enough to me. Especially in Brussels, I would like to share these 10 of my favourite restaurants with you. Just click the map to find out more…

My number one restaurant remains La Rotonde right behing the federal parliament and the Royal park, which calls itself “La plus parisienne des brasseries bruxelloises”…

Click the map for an interactive view…

Delhaize & Cie.

Yesterday, I promised you some pictures of the Delhaize Storehouse alongside the canal in Brussels. Well, today was a beautiful day for some pictures.

The Brussel’s association “Pétitions Patrimoine” organized a petition back in 2006 for the buildings to be preserved. As I told, the door and window transoms are decorated by Paul Cauchie, the well known Belgian art-nouveau architect and painter. The sgraffitis are nevertheless in a very bad shape, as is the building itself. But, some efforts were taken to try to preserve the building; nowdays it’s being inhabitated by a sort of caretaker.

According to Alain Boucher (Pétitions Patrimoine), the Delhaize buildings are property of a private project developer and they would be able to freely decide whether to keep or demolish the entire site.

As with the modernistic Citroën buildings, some 500m further down the same road, the Delhaize Warehouse is subject of a study which foresees the replacement of the buildings with high-rise mixed use buildings (see “New Brussels Tower”). In my opinion, the possible expansion of the north quarter alongside the canal that in fact has already begun with the approval of the building permit for the new open-air swimming pool and an agreement about the future of the industrial site Thurn & Taxis, is an irreversible process which involves too much money to guarantee the salvation of this valuable but visibly scarred site.

Here’s a link to the video clip (in Dutch/French) :
http://www.brusselnieuws.be/site/rubrieken/1091053933/page.htm?&newsID=1162833469#

“New Brussels” Competition

Quite some time ago, the real estate group Atenor nv. offered a prize for the competition for a new building complex along the canal in the Brussels North district. I did some research and came across a proposition by Conix Architects, the Antwerp based middle-sized bureau that was in charge for the Atomium renovation. I didn’t find any other participants yet… The project dated from 2005 but is in my opinion only an exercise for the future use of the area.

The twin towers, each having a different height, should serve as a new landmark for the area and such, for the city of Brussels, create a mixed content of industrial and urban beauty. The towers have a mixed use, providing offices and appartments on the higher levels, and shops, restaurants, bars, etc.. on the lower levels. The high building will also simulate a bodily scale, with voids and public spaces on the ground level. An esplanade with pavillions will allow a dynamic connection with a new walking area alongside the canal (which, in my opinion is very likely to be managed within the next decade!) at the Akenkaai.

Till date, there seems to be a problem, though. On the one hand, the “Sint Lucas Archive” tries to protect the historic Delhaize Storehouses, that should be demolished for the towers to arise. On the other hand, the city council, wants to get rid of the warehouses, but don’t seem to get a building permit… The only thing I know, is that the warehouses have valuable door-transoms above the entrance doors and even above the windows, by the Belgian art-nouveau architect Paul Cauchie. I’ll make a photoseries in a while. It might be worth a lot in let’s say 20 years

Also, acoording to an article in the Brussel’s newspaper “Brussel Deze Week” back in 2006, the old storehouses seem to provoke quite some squabble between Brussels politicians. Let’s wait and see how it will end, because since then, i didn’t hear a lot about the project any more…

Visit http://www.conixarchitecten.be/ 

I live in a “walkable area”…

Walkscore is a website that calculates your area’s walkability and gives your position a score, based on the distance to and amount of shops, schools, restaurants, etc… in your neighborhood.

I did the test after having discovered WalkScore via the Brussel Blogt website (thanks, Mike!) and received a humble 62/100 for my home’s position. Not too bad in this quite residential area on the border between Schaarbeek and St-Josse, but that’s mainly due to the many restaurants and obscure shops alongside the Leuvense Steenweg, I guess. Anyways, I can find anything I need in my neighborhood, and for more I’m quite close to the centre of Brussels.

Do the test yourself at http://walkscore.com/

Find the inspiring article at Brussel Blogt:

http://www.brusselblogt.be/2007/08/02/wandelen.html

Cityscape by Quinze

Yesterday, in an interview on fmbrussel, the Belgian artist Arne Quinze presented his latest work that will rise alongside the Av. du Troison d’Or, between the Louiza Square and the Porte de Namur. The mega structure will have quite some resemblance with the sculpture he and his team created in the Nevade Desert, some years ago. The installation will be unique; it consists of a wooden structure, mounted on 40 giant pillars. The structure’s giantness means : 40m by 25m, 18m tall. The installation represents a dynamic wave that rediates a certain force and will try to revaluate the Louisa neighborhood upper town. It will stand there for one year.

Brussels west ring road

A few weeks ago voices arose about the development of the small ring road on the west of the city centre of Brussels, between the Sainctelettesquare and the Porte de Ninove. Or should I say “public voices arose”? In fact the press release came some weeks prior to the delivery of a building permit. I did some research about the project and found the project description.

The study is effectuated by the Leuven based company, BUUR (Bureau voor Urbanisme cvba), a young and dynamic research company in the domain of urbanism and urban planning. The works on the Brussels west ring road will start later on this year and incorporate a new promenade alongside the canal, a new footbridge and most appealingmore space for public transport and for people to walk. I’m not quite sure if I can shouw you these pictures in a legal way, but I see this more as the promotion of the owner’s work towards a wider public. If there’s any remark, please be so kind to contact me!

Brussels mayor Freddy Thielemans sees the new development as a chance to re-unite the city centre of Brussels with its neighbour, Molenbeek, and to involve the waterfront in the experience of the city. I see the development as a first start to valorize the canal’s surroundings, while a study lead by the same company to develop the north zone on the upper side of the ring road, especially the development of the former industrial site Thurn & Taxis, was started earlier this year. The study consists of setting up a new master plan for the site and some general research about the sites possibilities.

The west ring road, between Sainctelette and the Ninoofse Poort, links up with the spontaneous development of the Dansaert district, that houses famous design and fashion shops. In fact, at larger notice the district could cope with a rise of rent, and such this could shift from a quite poor to a high standing quarter. Depends on the further development…

Astro Tower Refurbishment

While doing research on the public area in Brussels City, I found some interesting news – at least it’s new to me. The last few years not more than 9 high-rise buildings were rebuilt or refurbished in town. The last one is the Tower of Finance, due for 2008. But today I discovered plans for the refurbishment of the Astro Tower.

The Astro Tower is situated north west of the city centre, between Botanique and Madou and is actualy owned by the Dutch bank company Fortis. In 2006, a study for the renovation was held by the Belgian architects office Jaspers & Partners. It’s not that I have anything against Jaspers, but it seems to me that ambition is to be found far away here in Brussels when it comes to architecture. Of all refurbishments, Jaspers achieved over 50 percent! Anyway, due to a lack of ambition (as I call it), the refurbisment will commence in 2011 and will be completed in 2013. With its 110m, it will then be the amongst the 10 highest towers on the Brussel’s skyline.

Back in 2000, former Brussels mayor François-Xavier de Donnea prohibited buildings to become taller in the future. The aim was to clear the view from the balcony of the City Hall so that no high-rise would be perceptible. The battle for refurbishment was at stake, but with no real architectural competitions, it became nothing more than an update that would change nothing about this city space, and so it did – or did not, depends the nuance.

But some weeks – may it be months – ago the question of new high-rise buildings in the European District here in Brussels was quoted once more. I’ll bring that up within a few days (weeks).

Below a photo before and (likely) after :