We see it less as a new development than as a revival of an exciting, forgotten heritage.
– Jacob Kurek

Henning Larsen have revealed plans to transform a city block in Brussels, Belgium, into a mixed-use destination that will integrate living, working and green spaces.

The Brouck’R project is being delivered with local architects a2rc, developers Immobel Group and BPI Real Estate.

The Brouck’R project, due to break ground in 2021 and be completed in 2024, is being delivered with local architects a2rc, developers Immobel Group and BPI Real Estate.

It follows successful efforts elsewhere to "pedestrianise and re-centre civic life in Brussels’ urban core", which was left largely empty after working hours following the city's expansion in the 20th century.

The Henning Larsen studio told CLAD that the Brouck’R project is the first residentially-focused development in the city centre for decades and that the inclusion of a courtyard in the scheme will contribute rare green space.

"Cities must be places where people can move freely and fluidly, finding personal ways to connect with the city around them," explained Jacob Kurek, partner in charge of Brouck’R at Henning Larsen. "Brussels, while one of Europe’s oldest cities, has a rich urban fabric and thriving culture that makes it feel youthful. This, plus the city’s willingness to innovate and reinvent itself, makes this an incredibly exciting project to be involved in."

Covering 48,000sq m (517,000sq ft), the development will feature 182 apartments, 129 student rooms, a hotel with 145 rooms, an 8,840sq m (95,200sq ft) office building and 3,220sq m (34,700sq ft) of retail space.

A courtyard at the centre will provide green space for building occupants, while the scheme's design is aimed at balancing the "architectural heritage of Brussels’s grand Belle Epoque structures" with a more contemporary aesthetic.

"The whole concept behind the scheme for Brouck’R is to bring back its original energy, to bring back the things that have been lost in translation over the years," said Kurek. "We see it less as a new development than as a revival of an exciting, forgotten heritage."