The essence of the program and of its articulation resides in the duality which exists between the plinth of the block and the tower. The plinth volume, of a pedestrian scale, dedicated to the productive city and the community facilities, forms a base for the existing building. S
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The essence of the program and of its articulation resides in the duality which exists between the plinth of the block and the tower. The plinth volume, of a pedestrian scale, dedicated to the productive city and the community facilities, forms a base for the existing building. Small scale production spaces which surround a courtyard, construct the industrial filligree of the city. Simulaneously, by conjoining office space as being the domicile of the 21st century economy with small scale industry, alliances and clusters can be formed. Social housing rises up out of this block, transcending the eyeline of the street. This project, as a work/ live configuration, seeks to mediate between the traditional values of Anderlecht’s urban fabric and the boldness of Les Goujons as a product of Brusselization. The contrast between top and bottom is made even more apparent by their different alignments in relation to the site; the base following the street while the upper (existing) volume breaks ties with it. While the south wing of the building is absorbed into an urban block, the north wing redeems a modernist quality it initially never received. It now surrounds itself with public space - giving the building the notion of air, light and space. In the current situation, the plinth is disjointed from the street and public space, it fails to adress the public. The typical Anderlecht block is a mixture of different functions, volumes, shapes and spaces that address a variety of users and engages with the public realm in different ways. But all typical Anderlecht blocks share one quality: They are prourban and serve the traditional city. They are exploited by the resourcefulness of their residents. By absorbing Les Goujons into a newly established Anderlecht block, it takes advantage from these qualities, while simultaneously offering density and social diversity to the city. The inner spaces in the block will provide users the tools needed to build a community, a place to have a seat and enjoy the weather, as well as a space to have a conversation or a stroll. The intermediate zones become buffers; they soften the edges of public space. Without compromising the dramatic and overwhelming aesthetic of Les Goujons, the renovated facade retains the characteristics of the modernist aesthetic. Reused steel mullions and glass curtain wall panels glitter the mirage of Brusselization. The base volume facades instead delineate the townhouse tradition of 19th century Brussels. With a wink at Brussels’ façadism, These facades correspond to this tradition by reproducing the informal elevation of the street; arrhythmic placement of windows and balconies, altering building heights and detailed expression.