UNStudio completes mixed-use le toison d'or development in brussels

dutch firm UNStudio has completed its first project in belgium, a mixed-use scheme located on brussels’ avenue de la toison d’or. conceived as a hybridization of a traditional building-block typology and a mixed-use development with podium, the project combines a retail and residential program. planned in collaboration with jaspers-eyers architects, le toison d’or contains 72 apartments, 13,000 square meters of commercial space, a 1,040 square meter crèche, 330 parking spaces, and an elevated city garden.

the mixed-use development is located on brussels’ avenue de la toison d’or
image © hufton + crow (also main image)

the building’s distinctive façade is visually fragmented through variations in texture, depth and rhythm. this ensures that the scheme avoids the monolithic qualities commonly associated with block structures. curved vertical frames serve to enclose the balconies of the apartments on the upper floors, while facilitating the large display windows of the retail units. the elevations surrounding the elevated courtyard garden follow a horizontal arrangement where generously proportioned balconies provide a more tranquil experience of city life.

the scheme combines a retail and residential program
image © hufton + crow

apartment units vary in size from small to large, enabling a varied demographic of city residents. to ensure high levels of daylight, floor to ceiling heights reach at least 2.7 meters in all living areas. this height increases to more than 3 meters for the apartments situated along the avenue. open kitchens create informal entertainment spaces at the heart of the residences and determine circulation through the spaces.

the building’s distinctive façade is visually fragmented through variations in texture
image © hufton + crow

from an environmental perspective, ‘le toison d’or’ has been developed with high standards of sustainability. thermic isolation is used for the building’s façade, while a high standard of acoustic insulation is used throughout. the project was announced in 2013, and has been in development since 2009. see designboom’s previous coverage of ‘le toison d’or’ here.

elevations surrounding the elevated courtyard garden follow a horizontal arrangement
image © hufton + crow

a sculptural stairway connects the scheme
image © eva bloem

the use of the color gold is continued inside the structure
image © hufton + crow

apartment units vary in size from small to large
image © eva bloem

floor to ceiling heights reach at least 2.7 meters in all living areas
image © eva bloem

thermic isolation is used for the building’s façade
image © hufton + crow

see designboom’s previous coverage of ‘le toison d’or’ here
image © hufton + crow

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project info:

client: TD immo invest BVBA, brussels
belgian architect: jaspers-eyers architects
location: avenue de la toison d’or 25-29, brussels, belgium
building surface: 48,000 sqm
building volume: 87,000 m3 (above ground), 110,000 m3 (underground); total 197,000 m3
building site: 5,800 sqm
program: retail, apartments and underground parking
status: completed
photography: hufton + crow, eva bloem

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