The renovation of the Royale Belge building in southeast Brussels marks the careful reinvention of a modernist landmark. After a period of vacancy, the 80,000 m² structure has been reimagined to host a new mix of uses—offices, co-working spaces, conference facilities, a hotel, health club, and restaurants—while preserving the spirit and form of the original.
The project began in 2018 when the city granted a consortium of investors, Souverain 25, permission to undertake a major refurbishment. A design competition led to the selection of a team comprising Bovenbouw Architectuur, Caruso St John Architects, and DDS+ architects. Their proposal emphasized minimal intervention: retaining as much of the existing building as possible, adapting it for contemporary needs, and improving its energy performance.
Originally completed in 1970 as the headquarters of the Royale Belge insurance company, the building—designed by René Stapels with Pierre Dufau—is emblematic of 1960s corporate architecture. Set within a landscape of lakes and beech forest, its bold cross-shaped tower and two-storey podium earned it regional heritage protection in 2019.
Respecting and reworking the original
Key exterior elements, such as the iconic Corten steel façade, have been carefully preserved. New glazing, visually identical to the original, offers vastly improved thermal performance to meet today's environmental standards.
Inside, major changes are focused on creating connections and shared space. On the ground floor, large new openings in the marble-clad entrance hall connect semi-public areas with restaurants and adjacent offices. At the heart of the podium, a dramatic circular void—21 metres across and three storeys high—has been introduced, forming a generous central hub. This new space draws natural light deep into the plan, links the podium to the tower via a sweeping spiral staircase, and enables different programs to coexist fluidly.
Sustainability through restraint
The design strategy centers on doing as little as possible to a protected structure—an approach that aligns architectural preservation with sustainability. Retaining the concrete and steel framework drastically reduces embodied carbon, while the selective reuse of materials reinforces the project’s low-impact ethos. Rather than reinventing the building, the architects focused on unlocking its potential through light-touch interventions, ensuring its continued relevance while respecting its past.
