408BRI

This project interprets the building as the result of the pursuit of two major objectives, which the proposal seeks to maintain and enhance.

The first dimension is that of the North-South Junction space, which, in the mid-20th century, was envisioned as a national boulevard, with the mandated use of French stone on façades intended to formalize this vision. The Brigittines/Visitandines twin building can be seen, due to its position and scale, as the southern boundary element of this unique space, with its brutalist grid on the North façade. The concrete used in the reconstruction of the walkways echoes the dominant stone along the Junction boulevard, while the use of double-height concrete helps define privacy for the housing units in relation to the circulation space. This approach makes it possible to add proper windows and, for the first time, create a lively façade onto the Junction space.

The second dimension that the intervention aims to strengthen is one fundamentally linked to modernist thinking: a radical approach where technology and aesthetics directly and mutually inform one another. The reconfiguration of the walkways provides an opportunity to develop true North/South dual-aspect apartments, while single-aspect units benefit from generous outdoor spaces through the addition of an external structure. This structure is intended as a technically unique and synthetic gesture. It finally anchors the building within the surrounding public spaces by forming an activated plinth. It addresses the issue of noise from the thousand trains that pass by daily and, through the reuse of the former loggias, allows for construction work and technical interventions without intruding on the lives of the residents.

Finally, the design of the terrace slabs reflects the meticulous attention that Gaston Brunfaut and Charles Van Nuetem gave to the modulation of façades and plans, as well as their choice of a very limited palette of materials, including exposed aggregate concrete.