DESIGN / BRIEF

Sebastiano was the principal designer of the team at Conix Architects in Brussels, for the redevelopment of a mixed-use site in the city center.

The proposal set out to retain an existing heritage building on the site and replace a more contemporary office complex beside it. New apartments were proposed in the existing heritage building with retail shops and restaurant on the ground floor. A large u-shaped office building was proposed along the perimeter of the site, which is a formal and aesthetic response to the existing heritage building and Theatre National building located next door. A courtyard atrium allows for visual and acoustic separation between apartments and offices while maximising natural light and ventilation into the complex.

The ground floor of the office building is glazed and recessed to create a floating volume over and to reduce visual bulk along the street. Horizontality was emphasised on the new facades to accentuate the snake-like form of the addition, which complements the horizontal layering of the existing heritage building, and contrasts the verticality of the Theatre National facades. Horizontal striations of varying heights and coverage were proposed, to create privacy and sun-shading for office users while allowing unobstructed views out.