Outepront

Situated at the intersection of Avenue de la Reine, a listed regional road leading toward the motorway, and Rue des Palais Outre-Ponts, the site occupies a crossroads rich in history. This perspective has been shaped over time: in 1833, the creation of Rue des Palais established a link between two royal residences; in 1852, the construction of the Church of Notre-Dame de Laeken and Avenue de la Reine gave the axis its monumental character; and in 1958, the Universal Exhibition introduced one of its symbolic gateways, marked by the addition of service stations at the corner plots.

Today, the Outre-Ponts district is undergoing significant transformation through a series of urban studies and projects. These include the City of Brussels Mobility Plan, the Citroën–Parc Maximilien–Vergote Urban Renewal Contract, and the Beeldkwaliteitsplan, landscape vision for public space, all of which aim to promote soft mobility and shared public spaces in this highly congested, car-oriented area.

In this context, the new five-unit corner building will benefit from stronger connections to the canal, direct links with the redevelopment of the Monument to Labour Park and Jules De Trooz Park, and the creation of new pedestrian and cycling paths along the water. Above all, the project aligns with the ambition to drastically reduce road traffic in favor of prioritizing metropolitan routes on the canal’s right bank while dedicating the left bank to local streets designed for soft mobility and public transport.

Responding to this unique urban dynamic, our proposal introduces a new corner building with an architecture that is both strong and respectful—subtle in its expression yet assertive in quality—designed to contribute meaningfully to a heritage-rich urban environment in the midst of renewal.