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)

A clean desk is the sign of a sick mind!

I’m awake for the last 29 hours now, and I’ve got a deadline within 22 hours. That means I can afford myself a 15 minute break (I don’t count coffee breaks for real breaks, but when you read the article a little lower on this page, you’ll understand why!)

Where’s the deadline for? Well, my master thesis in architecture. I’ll show you some results in a few days. I only wanted to share these two pictures with you with an orange-blue wink towards this messy desk. I’ll clean it up soon!

And now, back to work!

My PersonalDNA

Following to the newest blog-craze, I took myself some 10 minutes to answer these annoying questions about myself and my behaviour. The result was one fine piece of barcode, very similar to the logo of the 2007 federal elections here in Belgium.

Nevertheless, I am said to be a “benevolent creator”. I can agree with that, but I had preferred a “creative benevolent”, though… Anyway, my studies in architecture perhaps shaped me into the person I am now, or maybe the shape that I was in, made me choose for architecture? I’m getting too filosophical, ain’t I? Maybe I should have been a “creative thinker”?

One thing is for sure : I cannot see any color of my preference in this DNA-stamp, and am not willing to buy any geek t-shirt as if…

Benevolent Creator

Right below yet another weird table: my glossary of traits. It says I’m quite confident and open, but hey, more masculine then feminine?? I also doubt about the authority. If I would have as less authority as mentioned, then I’ve chosen the wrong studies…

Anyway, you just got to know me a little better…

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…

Addicted to coffee

The above sticker says it all…

In these days of overheating and producing too much sweat in the final rush for my final project, I drink too much coffee. Maybe I should switch to beer or wine…?

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 :

Metro Brussels 2020 (part 2)

A while ago I wrote about a political leaflet I recieved from the Brussels liberal party, openVLD in their battle for the federal elections. One of their aims was that, if they would become elected, they want to realize a new “underground revolution”. It seemed to me more as an attempt to bring up again the never realized wild plans from the 70s to create a dense network.

But in an article that apeared today in the Brussels newspaper “Brussel Deze Week” chances towards an extension are reinforced. The party (openVLD) would like to realize 52 kilometer of new subway lines. An investment that would cost 3 billion euros! Entitled Minister of Public Works, Pascal Smet is not very keen on realizing these plans, as he finds the tramway a better alternative to the subway system.

It’s all a case of money, but chances are high that the subway traffic will be expanded in the following decade(s). Especially the new development alongside the canal (Thurn & Taxis) will probably be desserved by a new metro line…

Below, I’ve add the original plans of the MIVB (society of public transports Brussels) to establish an extensive metro network in Brussels. As you can see on this map, 8 lines would cross the city in the year 2000.

soon salon

A few months ago we recieved a question to catagorize all possible patterns in architecture and in daily life. With the thorough analysis we then created an architectural intervention, be it structural, optical or technical…

Back then, I came across the wallpaper collection of Rachel de Joode. She’s a photographer, studied at the Rietveld Academy, and does mainly fashion and styling.

Her wallpaper collection consists of details of fashion photographs. Through the repitition and mirroring of the ladies and gents on the photos, the wall finally gets a surreal “neo” Art-Deco look, giving the volume it surrounds a  spatial  experience.

There’s a video-clip about the collection and a website featuring all available prints.

http://www.soonsalon.com/content/collectie_rachel.html

http://www.soonsalon.com/content/collectie_rachel_the_noir_collection_film.html 

New blog…

This will be my blog for the following months.

I used to create and edit my blog with Apple’s iWeb but it seemed too slow to update my blog on a regular basis. I experienced it as a very nice program to create custom websites even though some people said that it’s childish and not easily customizable.

It’s true, especially the widgets and scripts made it quite a mess. And the scripts – like the StarIt rating system – let me down, slowing down my blog enormously. Sorry for that! But I must say that iWeb still is a very powerful yet easy to use web-design program.

Before starting up and customizing my blog entirely myself, I will be using this mediocre WordPress standard lay-out, bringing you more of the same; articles and photos on my city – Brussels, on architecture, design and photography. I will try to focus myself some more on these four items, but when I find some interesting or just some fun stuff, I’ll post it anyway.

Also, I moved all previous messages to this new blog, so feel free to add comments as you wish!

Enjoy and feel at home!