New National Bank of Belgium

Abstract

Future Bank, the graduation studio of Interiors Buildings Cities 2021/2022 revolves around the transformation of the National Bank of Belgium, a 90.000 m2 triangular building block. The design proposal for this transformation is based around the adaptive re-use of the vast, complex, existing building that the National Bank of Belgium currently is. The building is filled, or rather cluttered, with materials. Ranging from building services like ducts and heating, standardized elements such as raised floors, partition walls, suspended ceilings to objects such as chairs, tables, shelves. Essentially, the function of many of the building components is to obscure building services like ducts, cables and heating. Undressing, re-configuring and displacing are the three main actions in the strategy of the design. The design proposal aims, among other things, to make building services active instruments in the interior of the office, that no longer need to be obscured. The New National Bank of Belgium reveals the illusion and theatre of the office. Attempting to make space fully available for its inhabitants and visitors. The New National Bank of Belgium merges the public of Brussels with the employees of the bank. New public entrances are to be found on the ground floor, both leading into the monumental banking hall of the building. A permanent exhibition space, where the Belgian art collection of the bank is offered to the public of Brussels.