Oxy
Redesign in Brussels City Centre
2020–2025
Introduction
Following an international architecture competition, Snøhetta and local partner Binst Architects have been selected to redesign the famous Centre Monnaie/Muntcentrum in Brussels, Belgium.
Known for its iconic, cross-shaped form, the 1970s building has long sat at the heart of the city center as an office building and commercial hub. By transforming the 62,000 m² structure into a unique, mixed-use complex, the building will offer the citizens of Brussels a renewed and contemporary space to enjoy. As an energy-efficient retrofit, the design aspires to sustain the future of the building in the widest sense: spatially, architecturally, economically and socially.
Technical details
Immobel Group and Whitewood
Photo: Lucien R
The 63-meter-tall building is situated above “The Mint” shopping center in one of the busiest areas of Brussels city center, only a stone’s throw from The Royal Theatre of La Monnaie opera house, the bustling Place de Brouckère and the De Brouckère metro station.
Photo: Lucien R
By moving away from a mono-purpose function towards a more sustainable, mixed-use space with residential, commercial and leisure functions, the building will be better equipped to serve the city’s changing needs.
Photo: Lucien R
The design aims to strengthen and prolong public space with rooftop amenities such as a plaza garden, which gives a dazzling view of the Royal Theater of La Monnaie and the Munt Plaza, and a publicly accessible tower rooftop hotel lobby and restaurant with sweeping city views.
The project aspires to be extremely energy and resource efficient, employing circular design principles to transform the Centre Monnaie into a highly sustainable building. Focus areas include ensuring flexibility in use, transformability, reuse and reusability, recyclability and doing life cycle analyses (LCA) of the project.
Moreover, the project aims to produce its own, clean energy through PV-panels on the roof and façade. The project will target BREEAM certification.
Photo: Lucien R
Snøhetta and Binst Architects will be assisted by the Brussels architectural firms DDS and ADE in the execution of the project. The transformation will redefine this iconic building and give it a new role in the city’s skyline when completed.
Photo: Lucien R