On the site of an old soap factory in the centre of Brussels, abandoned since 15 years, has now been built “a small town with different typologies” with 42 sustainable housings - studios, apartments, lofts and small houses. The architects, Marie Moignot and Xavier De Wit, winners of the tender ”Exemplary Buildings”, as well as Gilles Debrun (designer), gave preference to a bioclimatic conception with a strong insulation. The buildings are indeed equipped with large terraces protected by bioclimatic “loggias” composed of glass sliding panels. These low energy “loggias” offer a thermo - acoustical protection and some privacy in such a densely built area. The lofts having been especially conceived with high performance materials are of the passive type. Many technical solutions have been implemented: double flow ventilation, night cooling, green half-intensive roofing, collective heating network, solar sanitary water, etc. Two condensation gas boilers and a small cogeneration unit are used to heat the complex. The rain water is partly recuperated and reused after treatment.

Keeping the façade with the original steel structure, this building has been reinforced with new floors and a central concrete core. An external wooden structure with 14 cm of cellulose and 5 cm of rock wool “packs” the whole building. To avoid condensation, the builders have chosen more diffuse materials for the steam spreading, ie, (from inside to outside): plasterboard, mineral wool, OSB, vapor barrier with variable diffusion, cellulose, fiberwood panels, ventilated groove, brick covering.

This project was conceived globally and underlines the quality approach for the buildings as well as for all the multipurpose spaces in the area. The whole complex with new, preserved and transformed buildings (lofts) proposes a great variety of services and conveniences: a launderette, a playing ground, a meeting centre, an inside garden, a walking area, a library. As a consequence of the biodiversity management of the site, the green roofing of the building serves to facilitate relations between inhabitants. The fact that the ancient emblematic chimney was not demolished is a proof of respect of the historical site. It is used for a better ventilation of the underground parking.

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