Architecture

Vincent Callebaut envisions green community for Brussels

Vincent Callebaut envisions green community for Brussels
Vincent Callebaut posits that the Tour & Taxis proposal could serve as a blueprint for other European cities
Vincent Callebaut posits that the Tour & Taxis proposal could serve as a blueprint for other European cities
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Vincent Callebaut Architectures has revealed new plans to turn Brussels' former industrial area Tour & Taxis into an "eco-neighborhood"
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Vincent Callebaut Architectures has revealed new plans to turn Brussels' former industrial area Tour & Taxis into an "eco-neighborhood"
The Tour & Taxis proposal includes office space, retail, and leisure activities
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The Tour & Taxis proposal includes office space, retail, and leisure activities
Built between 1902 and 1907, Tour & Taxis served as a customs clearance and storage complex throughout the 20th century
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Built between 1902 and 1907, Tour & Taxis served as a customs clearance and storage complex throughout the 20th century
The most notable feature of the Tour & Taxis proposal concerns three vaguely ski-jump shaped residential buildings referred to as vertical forests
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The most notable feature of the Tour & Taxis proposal concerns three vaguely ski-jump shaped residential buildings referred to as vertical forests
Elsewhere in the project, Callebaut envisions a large pond and organic pool
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Elsewhere in the project, Callebaut envisions a large pond and organic pool
Callebaut envisions the former Marine Terminal serving as 50,000 sq m (538,000 sq ft) of mixed-use space
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Callebaut envisions the former Marine Terminal  serving as 50,000 sq m (538,000 sq ft) of mixed-use space
Sustainable tech earmarked for the Tour & Taxis proposal includes wind power, solar power, and airtight building envelopes that require very little energy to heat and cool
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Sustainable tech earmarked for the Tour & Taxis proposal includes wind power, solar power, and airtight building envelopes that require very little energy to heat and cool
Callebaut envisions existing buildings, like the former Marine Terminal, being adapted and reused
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Callebaut envisions existing buildings, like the former Marine Terminal, being adapted and reused
Tour & Taxis would include lots of office space
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Tour & Taxis would include lots of office space
Callebaut's vision for the former Marine Terminal sees it packed with greenery
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Callebaut's vision for the former Marine Terminal sees it packed with greenery
We've no word as to how likely it is that the Tour & Taxis proposal will be realized
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We've no word as to how likely it is that the Tour & Taxis proposal will be realized
Tour & Taxis would include cross laminated timber (CLT) structures that provide a location for people to work and relax
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Tour & Taxis would include cross laminated timber (CLT) structures that  provide a location for people to work and relax
Inside a typical Tour & Taxis office
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Inside a typical Tour & Taxis office
Tour & Taxis would produce some 186 percent of its annual electricity requirements
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Tour & Taxis would produce some 186 percent of its annual electricity requirements
These raised pod-like buildings would be located within Tour & Taxis' existing Marine Terminal
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These raised pod-like buildings would be located within Tour & Taxis' existing Marine Terminal
The interior of Tour & Taxis' Marine Terminal would be covered in greenery
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The interior of Tour & Taxis' Marine Terminal would be covered in greenery
Tour & Taxis would include large meeting rooms
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Tour & Taxis would include large meeting rooms
The existing ironwork and other architectural features of the Marine Terminal would be retained by Callebaut
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The existing ironwork and other architectural features of the Marine Terminal would be retained by Callebaut
The raised pod-like buildings would provide meeting spaces within Tour & Taxis' existing Marine Terminal
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The raised pod-like buildings would provide meeting spaces within Tour & Taxis' existing Marine Terminal
Callebaut feels that the design could serve as a blueprint for making other European cities more sustainable
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Callebaut feels that the design could serve as a blueprint for making other European cities more sustainable
Built between 1902 and 1907, Tour & Taxis served as a customs clearance and storage complex throughout the 20th century
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Built between 1902 and 1907, Tour & Taxis served as a customs clearance and storage complex throughout the 20th century
Tour & Taxis would also feature plenty of restaurants and areas to relax
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Tour & Taxis would also feature plenty of restaurants and areas to relax
Built between 1902 and 1907, Tour & Taxis served as a customs clearance and storage complex throughout the 20th century
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Built between 1902 and 1907, Tour & Taxis served as a customs clearance and storage complex throughout the 20th century
A large pond would also be created, bordered by a natural pool
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A large pond would also be created, bordered by a natural pool 
Massive numbers of solar panels would ensure that the Tour & Taxis development would produce more electricity than it uses
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Massive numbers of solar panels would ensure that the Tour & Taxis development would produce more electricity than it uses
The former Marine Terminal would be packed with greenery
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The former Marine Terminal would be packed with greenery  
The most notable feature of the Tour & Taxis proposal concerns three vaguely ski-jump shaped residential buildings referred to as vertical forests
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The most notable feature of the Tour & Taxis proposal concerns three vaguely ski-jump shaped residential buildings referred to as vertical forests
Top-down view of the Tour & Taxis proposal
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Top-down view of the Tour & Taxis proposal
Vincent Callebaut posits that the Tour & Taxis proposal could serve as a blueprint for other European cities
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Vincent Callebaut posits that the Tour & Taxis proposal could serve as a blueprint for other European cities
Tour & Taxis' trio of towers would comprise a total floorspace of 85,000 sq m (915,000 sq ft) and feature balconies with fruit and vegetables
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Tour & Taxis' trio of towers would comprise a total floorspace of 85,000 sq m (915,000 sq ft) and feature balconies with fruit and vegetables 
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Vincent Callebaut Architectures has unveiled an ambitious plan to turn a former industrial area in Brussels, Tour & Taxis, into a cutting edge sustainable community. The proposal involves renovating existing buildings and the construction of new greenery-clad residential high-rises. Naturally, being a Callebaut project, it's also packed to the gills with green tech and would produce more energy than it requires.

Built in the early 1900s, Tour & Taxis served as a customs clearance and storage complex throughout the 20th century. Having become obsolete, it's now undergoing significant renewal and is already a destination for tourists and locals.

Fans of Callebaut's previous work should enjoy the architectural eye-candy on display here, and the proposal very much conforms to the futuristic design language we've come to expect from him.

The most notable feature is the construction of three new greenery-clad high-rises – or "vertical forests" – like the Bosco Verticale or Callebaut's own Agora Garden. With a total floorspace of 85,000 sq m (915,000 sq ft), the vaguely ski-jump shaped buildings would rise to a maximum height of 100 m (328 ft), and be topped by a roof clad in solar panels. Their balconies would be used to grow fruit and vegetables.

Callebaut feels that the design could serve as a blueprint for making other European cities more sustainable
Callebaut feels that the design could serve as a blueprint for making other European cities more sustainable

Elsewhere, Callebaut envisions Tour & Taxis' vast 50,000 sq m (538,000 sq ft) former Marine Terminal being adapted and reused, with its interior split into distinct areas. Geodesic domes would include restaurants and bar spaces, while raised, pod-like CLT (cross-laminated timber) structures would provide meeting spaces. Retail and open space offices would be located within more curved CLT structures, and small greenhouses would be affixed to the building's exterior.

Sustainable tech earmarked for the project includes wind turbines, large solar panel arrays, airtight building envelopes, natural ventilation, and rainwater harvesting.

Indeed, so much energy would be produced by the project (a calculated 186 percent of its annual electricity requirements) that Callebaut says there would be a large surplus which could be redistributed to neighboring historic buildings and any future developments.

We've no word as to how likely it is that the Tour & Taxis proposal will be realized. Whether or not it does indeed go ahead, the architect posits that it could serve as a blueprint for other European cities.

Source: Vincent Callebaut

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1 comment
1 comment
john78
Presumably he's also thought about the lack of circulation of the water and all the flotsam and jetsam that will pile up in those lovely fractal nooks and crannies?