The Brussel Circular Hub

BRUSSELS CIRCULAR HUB: A NEW TYPOLOGY

by Felipe Barera, Josua de Fallois

B5 Project Summer Term 2023 RWTH Aachen University

INTRODUCTION

What really determines the time of use of a material? When can we determine that a certain material is no longer useful? In view of the next generations, we need to develop a new perspective at what we already have in our hands and within our reach if we really want to develop a sustainable architecture that takes into account the exhaustible resources of our planet. For the Brussels Circular Hub, our main challenge was to develop an architecture from what has already been used - To see in something that was perhaps already considered waste a new purpose, a second chance. This responsibility towards materials added to the idea of creating a new concept of education in conjunction with an industrial environment were the pillars of our project.

A NEW TYPOLOGY

Faced with the challenge of bringing production and education under one roof, we were driven to develop a space that not only served both groups but also encouraged exchange, dialog and cooperation between them. A building that is flexible not only in its construction, but also towards the different users who will use it, giving individuals participation in the process of creating and adapting spaces.

One of the key points was the creation of a common space for all, where everyone is a protagonist and where all ideas have a place. Through the Mock Up Space, we aim to create an environment that would materialize all the synergies and connections between the groups in the creation of new technologies and knowledge.

The main challenge for the project was to integrate education into the program without further expanding the building area. The first step was to study in more depth the routines, demands and needs of each group, seeking to find common synergies that could be combined. This is how we came up with the idea of developing shared workplaces, that during the week are mostly used by companies, and on the weekends can also be used by students for workshops.

Being designed for students, the idea of the mezzanines on the first floor was to promote direct observation of the work environment, at a higher level, being able to closely follow the dynamics of the companies. At the same time that students have a view of the work area in one direction, in the other they have a direct connection with the Mock Up Space, where students can try for themselves building prototypes and developing new ideas.

Located on the top floor, we designed the multispace as a flexible part of our building which can adapt to different functions depending on the needs of the users. Whether as an extension of the showroom, an extra office and work area or a rest space, the multispace gives the project a unique and innovative character. The three floors combined give our building the character of a new typology, by managing to integrate several groups in one space and still allowing interaction and exchange of knowledge between them.

PALLETS AS A CONCEPT

As a starting point for our project, we looked for some element or material that could unify all the firms in a single building, something that they all had in common and that represented our main idea, to build from the reused.

That‘s how we came up with the idea of incorporating pallets into our project. Not only as a structural, but also as an artistic and architectural element, pallets became the protagonists of our building.

We thus sought to exploit their potential to the fullest in our architecture, using their materiality as one of the key points of the Circular Hub. Our intention was to go beyond using them only as a part of our structure, but also to give them the protagonism needed to tell the story of our building.

HOW CIRCULAR CAN A BUILDING BE?

In order to design a building that allows flexibility by the material choices, we developed architectural solutions that enable the use of different lengths.

Even though, it was a difficult task to search for the correct materials and find the specific data needed. The network of professional retailers who sell building materials coming from old, dismantled buildings has great potential, but is still in its inicial phase.

Many companies lack a detailed listing of their materials (dimensions, price...), many elements cannot be found due to storage/cost reasons with the consequence that the often more costly transport is still subject to the choice of material.

Door/Window

WTCElements

Cor.sheetpanel

ConcreteBlocks

StorageRacks

SavenergyPanel

NEW CHANCE, NEW USE

To effectively develop a culture of material reuse, we need to promote this idea from the earliest stages of a professional‘s education. As architecture students, we are responsible for producing a significant amount of waste throughout our academic formation. Whether it comes from dozens of printed plans or the countless models that mark our degree, the amount of waste we produce reflects our current culture of once used, directly discarded.

If we want to develop circular architecture on a 1:1 scale, what‘s stopping us from taking this philosophy to a smaller scale? The idea may sound a little arduous or overly labor intensive at first, but after developing the Circular Hub project, we thought it would be an interesting challenge to put into practice. Once again, we are faced with the following question: To what extent can we reuse materials and what strategies can we develop to optimize and make the most of this process?

THE PROTOTYPE

Our next step was to test our idea on a 1 to 1 scale, thereby building a complete element. The first step was the refinishing of the pallet, giving it a better look. For the gaps between the wooden boards, we used wooden slats of the same size, which after sanding gave the pallet a smooth and homogeneous structure.

After a varnish finish, we managed to add the texture and contrast we were looking for to our design. Since the pallets stand out and mark its presence in the aesthetics of the building, we were able to give them visibility and protagonism.

For the insulation we used seagrass, which in addition to being biodegradable can be easily used to uniformly fill the volume of the pallet. Finally, we closed the structure with an OSB board, which after screwed serves as a base for the fitting of our elements in the underconstruction of the walls.

CONCLUSION

Although the circular economy has made great advances in the past few years, it is up to us as architects to promote through our works the necessary change regarding the way we deal with our resources. Architecture plays a crucial role in trying to change the current way we see the built world around us.

Even if it will take many years to restructure our system, change needs to come from small initiatives so that the impact and influence of circular architecture is increasingly larger. The challenges are huge, the reluctance in many sectors is still big, but the prosperity of our and future generations depends on our ability to develop a sustainable, circular economy in tune with our resources.

The Brussel Circular Hub aims to be part of this initiative towards a more sustainable architecture. A building that has an innovative character not only in its conception but also in its typology. We design a building that provides makers as well as thinkers with a place of production in the city of Brussel, a place that can flexibly respond to different needs of use of individual professions, promoting the public exchange and the creation of knowledge.