Description

The building stands on the east side of de Meeus Square in the Léopold district. Together with its twin, the Résidence Albert, they create a gateway to the Rue du Luxembourg. The two luxury buildings have an L-shaped plan facing each other, each consisting of an eight-storey base volume above which rises a seven-storey tower, unobstructed on its four façades. Each building has three entrances: two for the eight-storey volume and one for the tower. The building was innovative in its construction and offered unparalleled comfort for its time.

In addition to cellars and private garages, the basement includes a central steam-heating system and a transformer cabin to supply electricity to the entire building. On each level, the concrete frame structure is designed to allow as much freedom as possible in terms of layout. The vertical circulations serve two apartments per floor, which are organised into living rooms on the square side, halls and bathrooms in the central part, and bedrooms and kitchen to the rear. They are complemented by terraces at the front and rear. The façades of the buildings show a strong horizontal composition, reinforced by the elongated windows and balconies. The latter, placed at the corners of the towers, make them lighter. The façade is covered with vibrated concrete slabs made of white cement and quartz.

---

Originally published in: Gérald Ledent, Alessandro Porotto, Brussels Housing. Atlas of Residential Building Types, Birkhäuser, 2023.