Mix-City in Belgium

Urban integration of an existing concrete mixing facility

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    Urban integration of an existing concrete mixing facility, Brussels, Belgium

    Picture of the model. The canopy spans the work area and rests on a support base of dry interlocking precast concrete blocks made from recycled concrete waste. It hangs over on the left side, where the public function is situated. This public function is accessible through a spiral staircase to a public walkway at ground level (not shown in this picture). The outer right end of the canopy accommodates the Inter-Beton offices with overview. The canopy frames the mixing tower and converts it into a civic landmark.

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    Urban integration of an existing concrete mixing facility, Brussels, Belgium

    Drawing of the existing situation. The Upsite tower, the offices for Brussels and Flemish administration, Tour & Taxis, the current and future parks, etc.: this is a diverse and vibrant zone in full development. The Inter-Beton site is on the intersection of two different axes, and can become a landmark, partly industry, partly accessible to all, contributing to a truly mixed Canal Zone for all to enjoy and use. In conclusion: “A good city has industry” – and everything else!

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    Urban integration of an existing concrete mixing facility, Brussels, Belgium

    View from crossing of two axes. The spiraling stairs gives access to the suspended public function.

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    Urban integration of an existing concrete mixing facility, Brussels, Belgium

    View from across the canal. The horizontal canopy frames the mixing tower.

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    Urban integration of an existing concrete mixing facility, Brussels, Belgium

    Industry is a vital part of the rich economic and urban fabric of a vibrant city.

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    Urban integration of an existing concrete mixing facility, Brussels, Belgium

    Offices of Inter-Beton have an overview of their industrial activities.

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    Urban integration of an existing concrete mixing facility, Brussels, Belgium

    View from work area. The canopy reduces dust and noise of the work area.

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    Urban integration of an existing concrete mixing facility, Brussels, Belgium

    Nighttime satellite view with artwork projected from mixing tower onto the canal.

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    Urban integration of an existing concrete mixing facility, Brussels, Belgium

    Axonometry showing a clean site organization and a landmark tower with canopy.

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    Urban integration of an existing concrete mixing facility, Brussels, Belgium

    Plan: A cleanup of the site provides clearer truck circulation, where the mixing tower becomes a roundabout.

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    Urban integration of an existing concrete mixing facility, Brussels, Belgium

    View from the Park of Tour & Taxis: the canopy protrudes and is visible at the end of the axis.

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    LafargeHolcim Awards 2017 for Europe prize handover ceremony, Marseille

    Winners of a LafargeHolcim Awards Gold ex aequo (l-r): Wes Degreef, Laurens Bekemans, Jasper Poesen, Nicolas Coeckelberghs and Ken De Cooman, all BC architects & studies for Mix-City: Urban integration of an existing concrete mixing facility, Brussels, Belgium.

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    LafargeHolcim Awards 2017 for Europe media briefing, Marseille

    Ken De Cooman, member of the LafargeHolcim Awards Gold ex aequo winning team from BC architects & studies, Brussels, Belgium. His project “Mix-City” Urban integration of an existing concrete mixing facility was one of two projects that shared the top prize for region Europe.

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    Urban integration of an existing concrete mixing facility, Brussels, Belgium

    BC architects and studies, Brussels, Belgium.

  • Awards Gold 2017–2018 Europe

Mix-City: Project for the integration of an existing concrete mixing facility in an industrial neighborhood of Brussels in Belgium, mixing industry, workspaces, and public functions.

By Jasper Poesen, Wes Degreef, Nicolas Coeckelberghs, Ken De Cooman, Laurens Bekemans - BC architects & studies, Brussels, Belgium

Ideas: Urban Requalification, Circular Materials & Building Components

Urban integration of an existing concrete mixing facility: The project offers an alternative to standard contemporary approaches, suggesting to keep the mixing facility on site rather than relocating it to the city’s edges, while adding a range of functions – both public spaces as well as privately funded workspaces – to densify the site.

Mix-City in Belgium

Project authors

  • LafargeHolcim Awards 2017 for Europe prize handover ceremony, Marseille
    Jasper Poesen

    BC architects & studies

    Belgium

  • LafargeHolcim Awards 2017 for Europe prize handover ceremony, Marseille
    Wes Degreef

    BC architects & studies

    Belgium

  • LafargeHolcim Awards 2017 for Europe prize handover ceremony, Marseille
    Nicolas Coeckelberghs

    BC architects & studies

    Belgium

  • LafargeHolcim Awards 2017 for Europe prize handover ceremony, Marseille
    Ken De Cooman

    BC architects & studies

    Belgium

  • LafargeHolcim Awards 2017 for Europe prize handover ceremony, Marseille
    Laurens Bekemans

    BC architects & studies

    Belgium

Project updates

September 28, 2017 | Winners of the Holcim Awards 2017 for Europe | Marseille, France

Sustainability – systematic and multi-functional

Holcim Awards 2017 for Europe prize handover ceremony, Marseille

The days when the sustainability of a construction project was a matter of ad hoc measures are over – sustainable construction has become systematic and specific. This was emphatically shown by the results of the Holcim Awards in region Europe: The first prize was shared by two projects in Brussels, both of which excel in terms of their multi-functionality.

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June 03, 2017 | Regional Jury Report – Europe | Lausanne, Switzerland

“Transforming an otherwise inauspicious industrial facility into a promising piece of architecture”

Urban integration of an existing concrete mixing facility, Brussels, Belgium

Facing the challenge of losing its industrial and economic base and acknowledging the fact that newly developed urban neighborhoods were gradually encroaching on industrial facilities, the municipality of Brussels initiated studies of how best to address the question at hand. Case in point is the project to integrate an existing concrete mixing facility within what had become one of the city’s most dynamic and culturally diverse areas. The project offers an alternative to standard contemporary approaches, suggesting to keep the mixing facility on site rather than relocating it to the city’s edges, while adding a range of functions – both public spaces as well as privately funded workspaces – to densify the site.

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March 21, 2017 | Statements on the sustainability of the project by the author | Brussels, Belgium

Project Entry 2017 for Europe

Urban integration of an existing concrete mixing facility, Brussels, Belgium

“A good city has industry”

Industry is a vital part of the rich economic and urban fabric of a vibrant city. In Brussels, the industrial infrastructure that is still prominent is a unique asset for the future. This infrastructure is now being revived into innovative manufacturing activities, low-skilled jobs and a circular economy. The Brussels Inter-Beton site is especially surrounded by an extremely mixed context: Up-site (highest residential tower in Belgium), the central administrations of the Flemish government and Brussels Environment, Tour and Taxis Park, etc. Besides the canopy with Inter-Beton admin functions hovering over the concrete mixing work area, we proposed to leverage public amenity by expanding public function with a central focal point suspended over public space. This will become a true symbol for the integration of industry and city.

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Related information

Links and downloads:

Location

pin Brussels, Belgium

Brussels, Belgium

Videos

Gold 2017 Europe (ex aequo) – Overview of Projects

Gold 2017 Europe (ex aequo) – Overview of Projects

“A Good City has Industry” – Sustainable design by Ken De Cooman

“A Good City has Industry” – Sustainable design by Ken De Cooman