The Future Bank

transformation of the National Bank of Brussels

Master thesis (2022)

Authors

R.F.A. Barten Architecture and the Built Environment

Contributors

S. De Vocht Situated Architecture - Architecture and the Built Environment (supervisor 1)
M.W. Klooster Teachers of Practice / A - Architecture and the Built Environment (supervisor 1)
S.S. Mandias Situated Architecture - Architecture and the Built Environment (supervisor 1)
D.J. Rosbottom Situated Architecture - Architecture and the Built Environment (supervisor 2)
Mark Pimlott Situated Architecture - Architecture and the Built Environment (supervisor 2)
S. Pietsch Situated Architecture - Architecture and the Built Environment (supervisor 2)
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment
Copyright: © 2022 Ron Barten
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Published Date

27-06-2022

Language

English

Reuse Rights

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Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Abstract

The Future Bank involves the transformation and adaptive reuse of the National Bank of Belgium in Brussels. A vast closed off urban block, designed to safeguard the states treasures hasn’t moved with the ever changing ambiguous role of the bank. The project introduces a new public plinth for the city of Brussels to appropriate together with a conglomerate of different office environments for the banks employees. As architect, taking on the role of bricoleur, the existing building structure has been approached as a source of pre-constrained materials. The metaphorical tools of the axe and pocket knife are used to eke out new meanings within the existing building structure. The misfit building will be healed by stitching together on different scales. In that way creating an architectural continuity which allows future adaptation and even an informality that invites to do so. The minimal interventions aim to heal the existing, minimizing our impact on the limited resources that our planet has to offer. The result is a strategy which must be considered before diminishing a building that misfits its contemporary role.