Den Douwe

potting soil, Grimbergen

Master plan for the redevelopment of an abandoned industrial site in the armpit of RING Brussels (A12/E19)
After the departure of Douwe Egberts coffee roaster from the site, the new owner Global Estate Group wishes to realize a mixed-use use on the site and partly to give new meaning to the existing buildings that are still in good condition, partly to realize new construction for companies who want to settle here. This new building is being realized in place of current buildings that were built very specifically for the former function (silos for coffee storage, coffee roasting house,…) and also to offer the existing office building to new users of various companies.

The first phase in this project is an interpretation in existing industrial halls on the site for a cultural center for the municipality of Grimbergen. The municipality wants a multi-purpose hall that can be used by various associations for parties, performances, lectures, events, ... and an interpretation for indoor padel fields and trampoline park in the adjacent halls by a private operator.
The central square on the site (located between the existing office building and the halls that will be used for this leisure) will be constructed and brought to the level of the floor of the industrial halls. The central square (formerly an asphalt pavement for loading docks) will be given a green character and can also be used as a location for outdoor events on the site.

An experience staircase in the form of a staircase, seating area lined with planters forms the transition from the car park for passenger cars and bicycle sheds to the central square. The stairs can be used by users of the site for leisure activities as well as by users of the offices as benches, stands,…

The new activities will be accessed via the central square, where large glass entrance doors are inviting and the closed facade surfaces with wooden cladding add extra emphasis to a pleasant environment.