Administrative Office Building for Brussels West Police / BAEB

Administrative Office Building for Brussels West Police / BAEB - Windows, Facade
© Julien Forthomme

Administrative Office Building for Brussels West Police / BAEB - Windows, FacadeAdministrative Office Building for Brussels West Police / BAEB - Windows, FacadeAdministrative Office Building for Brussels West Police / BAEB - Image 4 of 17Administrative Office Building for Brussels West Police / BAEB - Stairs, Facade, WindowsAdministrative Office Building for Brussels West Police / BAEB - More Images+ 12

Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Belgium
  • Architects: BAEB
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  5120
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2017
  • Photographs
    Photographs:Julien Forthomme
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Blyweert Aluminium, Enertherme IKO, Gyproc Rigitone, Kone, Silicat
  • Team: Emmanuel Bouffioux, Juan Ochogavia, Anthony Fays

  • Collaborators: ABCSIS-VAN WETTER SA, NEO&IDES, TPF Engineering
  • Client: Zone de Police Bruxelles-Ouest / Direction Appui –Sevice Infrastructure 

  • Architects In Charge: Emmanuel Bouffioux, Juan Ochogavia


  • City: Molenbeek-Saint-Jean
  • Country: Belgium
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Administrative Office Building for Brussels West Police / BAEB - Stairs, Facade, Windows
© Julien Forthomme

Text description provided by the architects. Surrounded by many residential buildings, a school and an area dedicated for temporary events with a football stadium and an Olympic pool, the new police station is situated at the junction between different mixed functions, sometimes calm, sometimes subjected to important happenings. It was essential to take this site’s characteristic into account before proposing a new face for the developing neighbourhood.

Concept

The project tends to submit to its surrounding environment, and the way the building is perceived was a central point of consideration. Designing a building that accommodates services typical for an authority and security institution proved to be a real challenge regarding functionality and symbolism. The design had to reflect a strong image to represent the Police, and at the same time it has to integrate smoothly in its context in order to be appropriated by the neighbourhood’s inhabitants.

Through its volumetry and proportions, the project creates a strong symbol in a determined environment, reflecting the services brought by the new station. The solution was born from an architectonical element found on Géomètre Street, thus ensuring an optimal integration and marking a symbol of force through a buffer wall between the private and public space. This approach allowed us to clearly distinguish the new police station, keeping at the same time a balance with the neighborhood’s other inhabitants.

Section

We tried to reach our aim by working with a volumetry that respects the existing context. The new intervention had to be showcased as much as the surrounding buildings.

Administrative Office Building for Brussels West Police / BAEB - Windows, Facade
© Julien Forthomme

On a functional level, the design proposes bright and fluid spaces despite the challenge raised by a site with such a small surface. The free terraces provide the building with a certain flexibility through time.

Administrative Office Building for Brussels West Police / BAEB - Image 4 of 17
© Julien Forthomme

In order to reinforce this adaptability, one of the most important aims of our approach was to ensure that all occupants benefit from natural light. The patio creates a certain lighting quality, flexibility, and a visual relationship between the building’s various occupants and visitors.

Administrative Office Building for Brussels West Police / BAEB - Windows, Facade
© Julien Forthomme

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Project location

Address:Rue du Géomètre 45, 1080 Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Belgium

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Administrative Office Building for Brussels West Police / BAEB" 01 Apr 2018. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/891520/administrative-office-building-for-brussels-west-police-baeb> ISSN 0719-8884

© Julien Forthomme

布鲁塞尔街道警察局 / BAEB

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