The Royale Belge building is a fine example of 1960s corporate architecture characteristic of Brussels. Designed by the renowned Belgian architect René Stapels in collaboration with architect Pierre Dufau, the building was completed in 1970 as the headquarters of the Royale Belge insurance company. Its cross-shaped tower and large two-storey podium contained offices, conference and training facilities for around a thousand of the company’s staff. A landmark in Brussels’ architectural landscape, the 80,000 m2 building with its surrounding landscape received regional heritage protection in 2019.
Bovenbouw Architectuur and London-based Caruso St John Architects won the competition to refurbish the Royale Belge in 2019, and executed the building in partnership with Brussels-based DDS+ architects.
The project is largely about doing as little as possible to the protected building; reusing and recycling materials wherever possible, making minimal alterations to allow it to fulfil its new purpose, and improving its energy performance whilst preserving the essence of its original design.
On the ground floor, large openings have been cut out of the original marble clad walls in the entrance hall, activating the lobby by creating a new route towards the rear side of the plinth. A generous passageway leads to a large new circular hall that has been cut through the floors of the podium at the centre of the plan. This new void provides orientation for visitors who explore the multifunctional character of the plinth. This monumental new space strengthens the atmosphere of generosity in scale and detail that belongs to the spirit of the original building. Twenty-one metres in diameter and three floors high, the atrium brings light deep into the building, connects the lower levels of the podium to the tower with a sweeping spiral staircase, and provides a new shared space for the building’s users that allows the offices, hotel, bar and health club to coexist.
Externally, the original Corten steel façade framework has been retained with glazing that closely matches the original but with thermal performance that meets contemporary standards.