By granting planning permission for the Stadsatelier de Ville project, Urban is proving that traditional planning permission procedures can evolve to support circular and innovative construction strategies.
Usually, a building project has to specify its design and materials in detail before planning permission is granted. For this project, the usual approach wasn't feasible, as the materials used will depend largely on what is available through reuse channels when the works take place.
Faced with this unprecedented situation, Urban therefore took a different approach while it examined the application, and issued planning permission that evolves as the project is implemented.
An innovative and evolving project at Tour & Taxis
Set on a 5,499 m² site in the Brussels port area, the Stadsatelier de Ville project is truly unprecedented. What makes it unique is that the final design of this future circular workshop had not yet been completely finalised when the planning permission was granted.
The future site will house a production facility and a Circular Hub comprising nearly 7,000 m² of workshops, storage areas and offices. The site aims to become a fully-fledged hub for the production, training and distribution of sustainable building materials, and among other things will house the teams from Democo and BC Materials, two circular construction players.
Adapting to the available materials
From an architectural perspective, the building will not be designed using pre-determined materials. The design's flexibility means the building can be adapted to the materials available through reuse channels when the works take place.
Specifically:
- the construction materials, including window frames, will largely be sourced from reused materials, depending on what is available;
- bio-based resources, such as wood or straw, will complete the picture.
This circular approach makes it possible to valorise existing materials and therefore limit the environmental impact of the construction works.
A flexible and clear design
The project is based on a hybrid and scalable structure. This means certain design choices will be refined as the project advances, depending on the materials actually available. This approach reflects a new way of thinking about architecture, one that can adapt to contemporary challenges.
This construction method also serves an educational purpose: the building’s architecture will be clearly visible, providing a practical illustration of how circular construction works.
The project will also incorporate various elements to improve resource management:
- green roofs;
- a rainwater recovery system;
- innovative energy management solutions;
- and a particular focus on land use.
A new way of granting planning permission
One of the project's most innovative aspects is how Urban granted the planning permission.
To guarantee a circular approach, there was a specific solution: the planning permission can be subsequently adapted based on the materials actually used. This flexibility will make it possible to support the implementation of the project while ensuring compliance with the authorised framework.
This innovative approach demonstrates how procedures can evolve to support circular construction. With this responsible, forward-looking project, Urban is paving the way for more flexible practices that better reflect the challenges of Brussels' ecological transition.
