Union Professionnelle d'Architectes
Beroepsunie Van Architecten

On Saturday 2nd December 2017, the FAB proposed to the architects delegates to the GA of the ACE (Architects' Council of Europe) a walking tour through Brussels City and towards the heart of Molenbeek, in a mixed and lively neighbourhood that has unfairly received bad press lately. They were accompanied by
members of the UPA (which was at the origin of this initiative). This guided tour was organised by CERAA asbl and commented by Olivier Bastin.

Drawing on his experience as Bouwmeester-Master Architect of the Brussels Region from 2009 to 2014, Olivier Bastin introduced the tour in the wider context of the regional policy on architecture and urban renewal during the friendly meal that brought all the participants together in a restaurant in the Dansaert district. The participants in this visit, both Belgians and foreigners, were astonished by the achievements they were able to discover during this interesting afternoon. During the visit that followed, the participants were able to discover :

• MAD Brussels: Renovation of a group of buildings to house the Brussels Fashion and Design Platform.
  Design: architectural office V+ and Rotor
• Dark Horse: Transformation and extension of a former brewery to create artists' studio apartments.
  Design: architectural offices l'Escaut and Atelier Gigogne
• Renovation of the former Bellevue breweries into a training centre and office space and extension with the construction of a passive hotel  
  Design: architectural office l'Escaut
• Renovation of part of the former Bellevue breweries into a passive low cost hotel and construction of a passive housing tower  
  Design: architectural office A2M
• Renovation and extension project of the social housing tower "Brunfaut".
  Design: Dethier architecture and A229 architects
• L'Espoir - one of the first passive apartment buildings in Brussels, built in wood frame construction and designed in collaboration with the inhabitants.
  Design: Carnoy Crayon architects
• Passive social housing buildings with shops  
  Design: B612 associates
• Redevelopment of the Molenbeek municipal square as the first shared space in the Brussels Region Passive social housing buildings with shops
  Design: A-Practice
• Social housing and day nursery complex built in solid wood CLT
  Design: architectural office K2A
• Passive complex comprising counters for the commune of Molenbeek, offices and a housing estate
  Design: Pierre Blondel architects
• Pedestrian street with rainwater basins
  Design: MSA architecture and urbanism.