Robbrecht en Daem architecten

BeursBourse Public Building

BeursBourse Public Building 

Bureau d’Etudes en Architectures Urbaines + Popoff architects + Robbrecht en Daem architecten

BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez

EXECUTION ARCHITECTS
Bureau D'etudes En Architectures Urbaines, Popoff Architectes, Robbrecht En Daem Architecten

CLIENT
City Of Brussels

RESTORATION
Atelier D'architecture Caz

ART INTERVENTION
Valérie Mannaerts

PROGRAM / USE / BUILDING FUNCTION
Covered Public Hall, Café, Restaurant, Ticket Office, Exhibition And Seminar Spaces, Belgian Beer World Experience Center, Panoramic Bar, Archaeological Site Bruxella 1238 And Public Square Above

STATUS
Provisional Acceptance

LIGHTING
I.c.o.n.

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Greisch

SERVICE ENGINEERING
Greisch

ROADS
Greisch

ACOUSTICS
Kahle Acoustics

SCENOGRAPHY
Agence Clémence Farrell, Mather & Co

DATE
2015-2023

CONTRACTOR
Denys Nv, Tripel, Renotec

GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Base Design

SAFETY
Cosep Sa

PHOTOGRAPHS
Sébastien Bez

AREA
11318 M²

YEAR
2023

LOCATION
Bruxelles, Belgium

CATEGORY
Public Space, Other Public Administration Buildings, Renovation

BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez

Text description provided by architect.

The Bourse in Brussels has just reopened its doors, exchanging its status as an urban fortress built in the 19th century for that of a genuine public building, given back to the citizen for the next upcoming centuries.

In doing so, it envisions a highly accessible, vibrant, and diversified future. The architects of the project are Bureau d'Etudes en Architectures Urbaines, Popoff architectes and Robbrecht en Daem architecten.

BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez

The initial request from the international competition was for an ambitious redevelopment of the monument – to improve its accessibility and continuity with the pedestrian zone around the Grand Place – integrating a Belgian beer experience centre and renovating the adjacent archaeological site.

The architects responded to this request with a thorough investigation of the natural urban flows around the Bourse, so that the existing architecture could be fluidly connected to the surrounding urban fabric switching from the medieval organic neighbourhood at the east side to neo-classical boulevards at west.

BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez

The spectacular central hall was therefore transformed into an impressive covered square where temporary stalls and kiosks are set up depending on the programming of events by the managers of the building.

Valérie Mannaerts put her artistic stamp on the floor of this public gallery with four oversized organic elements in marbles mosaic, lending a noble character to this new public space.

BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez

Following the different construction and transformation phases of the monument crossing the ages, three new entrances were created, carved into the austere bluestone plinth beneath the richly sculpted French stone facades at previously transformed spots.

These new recessed entrances are built in architectural concrete in a colour similar to the building's French stone and are closed at night by elegant brass gates.

BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez

They allow passers-by to enter the building at the same level as the new stairs and take them on an architectural promenade.

This begins on the second floor of the hall and climbs further in an upward spiral to the upper floors, where Belgian Beer World's bold, interactive exhibition is located (designed by Mather & Co, executed by Agence Clémence Farrell).

BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez

The grand finale of this promenade is on the roof terrace where a panoramic bar, characterized by an elegant lattice metal canopy, allows breathtaking views of Brussels.

The project includes the archaeological site Bruxella 1238, whose ruins of the 13th century lie under the rue de la Bourse, which from now on will be directly accessible from the Bourse's basement.

The site remains visible from the street through glass oculi that highlight the main elements of the ruins and are shielded by brass lattice finding their inspiration in the typical old 'baskets' of the Bourse used for trading operations.

BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez

The restoration of the building, made by the archiCAZ office specialized in restoration, highlights both the original parts by Suys from 1873, and the later renovations by Jules Brunfaut in 1893 and by François Malfait in 1930.

The restoration of the large 19th-century stained-glass windows allows natural light to fall generously into the hall and enhance the qualities of the monument.


BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez


BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez
BeursBourse Public Building
© Sébastien Bez


BeursBourse Public Building
Plan - Basement floor
BeursBourse Public Building
Plan - Ground floor archeosite
BeursBourse Public Building
Plan - Ground floor
BeursBourse Public Building
Plan - 1st floor
BeursBourse Public Building
Plan - 2nd floor
BeursBourse Public Building
Plan - 4th floor


BeursBourse Public Building
Section AA
BeursBourse Public Building
Section BB
BeursBourse Public Building

Section Y
BeursBourse Public Building
Section Z
BeursBourse Public Building
Axonometry

Robbrecht en Daem architecten
T +32 9 2162630
Robbrecht en Daem architecten
Lieremanstraat 64, 9000 Gent, Belgium