Known KBC building makes place for green residential project The Banks
Brussels, 11 January 2023 - At Havenlaan in Brussels, where the famous KBC building currently stands, The Banks will soon arise: a brand new and family-friendly green residential area. Building owner Triple Living is constructing the first two of three residential towers and a residential strip built around a large communal inner garden. Quality, greenery and livability are the foundations of the residential complex, which is aimed at a variety of residents and fits into the green reorientation of the Haven neighbourhood and the nearby Tour & Taxis site. Architects OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen and Nicolas Firket Architects are designing the masterplan and the buildings. Bureau Bas Smets is taking care of the landscape architecture.
The Banks
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Response to acute housing shortage in Brussels
The landlord Triple Living develops neighbourhoods and projects with a vision that fits into the larger local framework. One such project is The Banks. The housing project is a response to the acute shortage of quality affordable housing in and around Brussels. The site offers a variety of housing types, including semi-detached houses and flats that vary greatly in size and number of bedrooms. The lower residential strip contains some detached houses with their own entrances. Depending on the building and typology, the different housing units have their own outdoor space. Conservatories, terrace rooms and balconies allow residents to fully enjoy the planting and the view of the spacious courtyard garden, the canal, the adjacent Beco Park and the city.
The site's masterplan is strongly committed to quality of life, both for residents of The Banks and those living nearby. With the open character of the new residential site, the neighbourhood behind it will also regain its openness. The innovative site ties in with the planned major greening of the wider area. The open and green framework makes The Banks a cosy, lively residential area where it is pleasant to live for young and old. Moreover, a considerable part of the plots will be reserved for collective spaces, such as offices, a crèche, a brasserie, two meeting centres and even a hotel.
Clear architecture with plenty of outdoor space
The architectural firms OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen and Nicolas Firket Architects have opted for clear architecture with sober lines and a flexible floor plan that is perfectly tailored to the needs of the modern urban dweller. The selection of individual buildings creates an urban ensemble that offers identity and diversity to the residents and their surroundings. The façade design gives each building its own character and creates a solid yet elegant urbanity.
The Banks will be a family-friendly new neighbourhood: green, sustainable and vibrant. With a strong relationship to the canal and the parks that will make the neighbourhood even greener in the near future.
Spacious green space, view of canal and park
The Banks is a green residential complex with a landscape design by the renowned firm Bureau Bas Smets, which also designed the landscape park of the nearby Tour & Taxis and the landscape of Nieuw Zuid in Antwerp. The Banks' large central courtyard garden will form a bridge between the publicly accessible areas and the future Becopark along the quays, while providing sufficient privacy. This green heart will have a number of playgrounds and, together with the other communal spaces, will form an ideal meeting place for the residents.
Mobility on a city scale Did you know that Brussels is a pioneer in car sharing? In 2021, there were more than 60,000 car sharers in the city. The Banks respond by making shared cars available to residents in the underground car park. There is also a particularly large amount of space for bicycles there. |
The closed façade of the current KBC building will give way to an open design that will allow passers-by to enjoy the public spaces and plantings, and provide residents with the best views of the canal and the planned Becopark. Extending in front of The Banks from 2024 will be Becopark, a wide green boulevard of 3.2 hectares that will connect to the park at Tour & Taxis, providing residents with a large, expansive green oasis. The Banks is intended to be an urban anchor, driving the revitalisation of the Canal Zone and capitalising on its potential green character.
Addendum 1 About Triple Living.docx
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Addendum 2 About OFFICE KGDVS.docx
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Addendum 3 About Nicolas Firket Architects.docx
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