Iconic magazine EN #thesixthedition

ICONIC MAGAZINE

# the sixth edition

Iconic in Antwerp Renovation of the KBC Boerentoren in collaboration with Fernand Huts of Katoen Natie Groep

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Finance

Cities

State of the Art

ION Residential Platform invests 280 million euros in the Belgian rental market

Burenberg, a mixture of housing forms in Leuven

Jef Neve on a year of surprises

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˼ ON THE COVER

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The Boerentoren This project is destined to be an extraordinary gift to the people of Antwerp, Flanders, and the many international visitors.

ION’s dream team is more than ever ready to make this a tremendous success story.

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˼ CONTENT

ICONIC

ICONIC

# the sixth edition 0 8 ————— 2 0 2 1

6 —

Introduction

8 —

Cities

14 —

Trends

18 —

Architectural Gems

22 —

In Conversation

28 —

Finance

30 —

State of the Art

Jef Neve on a challenging but inspiring year

34 —

Speakers Corner

ION believes Wallonia holds a great future

38 —

Sustainability

40 —

Technology

42 —

Under Construction

44 —

The Resident

47 —

Photo section HaZee

Leuven The potential of undeveloped spaces Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen + Horizon House

Davy Demuynck and Fernand Huts

ION Residential Platform

Energy-efficient living and working in Veurne

Shayp detects water leaks

Sustainable working in HaZee

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22

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30

34

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˼ INTRODUC TION

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ICONIC

ION keeps innovating The ION Residential Platform is the showpiece of 2021. This joint-venture challenge bodes well for a successful future for the Belgian rental market.

From left to right: Paul Thiers (Chairman and Co-founder), Davy Demuynck (CEO and Co-founder), and Kristof Vanfleteren (CEO and Co-founder).

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— A bumper year for ION

employees, which requires more office space.

Our lives have been ruled by the corona

In addition, we are crossing the Flemish

pandemic for over a year now. Still, we kept

border and are setting up in Wallonia as well!

up our team spirits because, after all, fun is

Pierre Gielen, 100th employee and Business

in our DNA. We kept looking to the future and

Manager for Wallonia, tells us more.

were able to secure some exciting projects.

Our own successes allowed us to give the In terms of business, ION actually had a

cultural sector a boost by supporting “The

bumper year. Without a doubt, one of our

Spring Sessions.” For this online series of

greatest successes is the renovation of

concerts, Jef Neve invites a Belgian guest for

Antwerp’s iconic Boerentoren (“Farmer’s

each concert and puts on a fantastic music

Tower”). We are embracing this challenge

show. You can read in an interview in this

together with Katoen Natie Groep and will

magazine what the Flemish composer thinks

be converting the former KBC building into a

about culture post corona.

unique culture tower. We are revealing some of the details in an interview with Fernand

— Looking towards the future

Huts now, but we will certainly come back to

Just like Jef Neve, we are very much looking

this later in the year.

forward to a future where more will be possible, even if it no longer seems that far

Of course, the Boerentoren is not our only

away. We trust this magazine will inspire and

project. Other projects include Burenberg in

motivate you to keep going!

Leuven, HaZee in Ostend, and Suikerpark in Veurne, three great examples of putting sustainability

first

through

innovative

techniques and smart designs. With these

Davy Demuynck and Kristof Vanfleteren

projects, we demonstrate that the environment

CEOs and Co-founders

is at least as important as the architecture.

Paul Thiers — Innovation, growth, and commitment We have also been very active in terms of innovation. ION Residential Platform is the first institutional housing platform in Belgium to make long-term investments in the residential rental market. We sensed that the time had come to introduce this type of entrepreneurship in Belgium. We are fully committed to this joint venture together with Bouwinvest Real Estate Investors, and CBRE Global Investment Partners.

It is clear that our ambitions are continuing to grow. Consequently, we are taking on more

Chairman and Co-founder

'We are always looking to the future.

˼ CITIES

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ICONIC

The oldest university city Leuven is known as Belgium’s main university city. This is for good reason, since the university will be celebrating its 600th birthday in 2025.

Compact and Cosmopolitan Leuven, a blend of people and culture

Burenberg: Sustainability is key ION’s Burenberg project is a new mixture of housing forms and an oasis of tranquility within walking distance of the center of Leuven. The objective is to develop a zero-energy residential area using a heat distribution grid, smart water management, and solar panels. The Brothers of Charity’s monastery is being renovated, with its historic chapel and park gardens forming the heart of Burenberg.

Sample the atmosphere at www.burenberg.be

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Lies Corneillie became an Alderwoman in Leuven in 2019. She focuses on finding creative solutions to encourage urban living.

'In Leuven, we want everyone to come into their own.

— Lies Corneillie, Alderwoman for Housing, Equal Opportunity and Global Policy of the City of Leuven

“Leuven is both compact and

exceptional: “People have been living together

cosmopolitan,” says Lies Corneillie.

for generations. This can occasionally cause

“Although everything is small, close-by,

tensions, but we like to turn this into some-

and pleasant, the city has a lot to offer,

thing positive. Volunteering, for example.

including a world-class university and

Interns and young people become involved

several large companies. The people of

in community centers, retirement homes, or

Leuven also bring their own wealth of

their own neighborhoods. We listen to the

ideas, activities, and perspectives.”

residents and try to find solutions together if there are any problems.”

— Sustainable living for both young and old Leuven is a trendsetter when it comes to

— Creative initiatives

sustainable city living. In 2019, the city coun-

Promoting encounters between different

cil issued a new governance approach and

generations is not a matter of course. The

recently gave the go-ahead to a new develop-

“stand up for your community” initiatives are

ment in the city center: Burenberg, a sustain-

a response to this. “These initiatives allow res-

able housing development near the city center.

idents to organize something for their neighborhood. This can take many different forms,

The diverse clientele that will be residing here

from green socializing spots to book exchange

is remarkable. Indeed, the housing develop-

boxes,” says Alderwoman Lies Corneillie. “We

ment has a lot to offer, including single-family

trigger spontaneous interactions just by let-

homes, student rooms, apartments, co-living

ting people take the initiative.”

rooms, a residential facility, and assisted-living apartments. Corneillie says this is not

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˼ CITIES

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Historical heritage Without a doubt, Leuven’s historic town hall is its most iconic landmark. Another must-see on this list is the beguinage.

Kristien Hansebout Kristien was born and raised in West Flanders but fell in love with Leuven’s charms in her student days.

“Leuven immediately won my heart during my student days, which is why I bought a house there in 1986.

Although it’s a small and pleasant town, it has so much to offer. Whichever direction you take, you can be in the countryside within ten minutes. When we built these homes, we found it essential to have plenty of sunlight coming into our living space. That’s why our living quarters are on the top floor and the sleeping quarters on the ground floor. In that way, we always have a holiday atmosphere in our own homes.”

ICONIC

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Axel Buyse Originally a Kortrijk native, Axel stuck around in Leuven after he completed his studies. He is currently living in the oldest house in town.

“Ever since my twenties, I have been enamored by Leuven’s historic city center, its friendly restaurants and cafes, and the river Dyle meandering through. And its international character is one of the main reasons why I’m still living here. Therefore, we feel privileged to be living in Leuven’s oldest house, which is a listed building.

In 2005, my wife and I renovated our house into a home full of character and history, following all the rules of Heritage Architecture.”

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˼ CITIES

ICONIC

Genade De Lille Genade was born 85 years ago in Maldegem and is now a proud citizen of Leuven.

“Living in Leuven is like heaven on earth to me. When I walk out my door, I can immediately enjoy the green spaces around the river Dyle and the historical setting of St. Peter’s Church. I bought my home from an Antwerp lawyer. He told me, 'If you want to buy the houses, you will have to buy all five of them.' I worked with the architect Bruno Erdico to convert three of the five hovels into my cozy home, and that at the age of 81!”

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Gosse Gosse is the owner of the Bereklauw community and has been living in Leuven since 1965.

“Back in 1965, I arrived at my student lodgings in Leuven, fully packed and ready to go. In 1972, having had a taste of city life for a few years, I moved to the Bereklauw community. More than anything, we were tired of the city bustle and wanted to become self-sufficient in terms of living and gardening. We have had many international young people making pit stops at our ‘eco-village’ home. Our community lets you rediscover your own talents and get back to the ‘basics of living.’

Everyone is welcome to come and stay here, so long as you have a passion for sustainable living and like rolling up your sleeves.”

˼ TRENDS

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ICONIC

The best of both worlds in Herent The town’s ease of access and bustle in combination with nature’s tranquility and greenery. These are the strengths of Houtkant, a collaborative project between ION and OMGEVING.

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The potential of undeveloped spaces In the contemporary townscape, we see new-build apartments and houses surrounded by green areas with consideration for ecology. The objective is to create a place where people can enjoy nature right in the middle of town. Peter Swyngedauw and Tompy Hoedelmans of the design agency OMGEVING have noticed a promising trend: “Undeveloped spaces are gaining more interest, which brings only advantages.”

Real estate developers increasingly see public spaces as essential parts of their designs.

This contrasts sharply with fifteen years ago when they just planted a few trees here and there once their designs had been more or less completed. Today, undeveloped green spaces are considered almost equally important and are central from the project’s outset.

“The fact that green public spaces are receiving more attention is a positive trend,” says Peter Swyngedauw, Spatial Planner at OMGEVING. “It enhances residential quality, adds balance to the environment, and creates attractive residential neighborhoods. It’s another example of where we see economics and ecology going hand in hand. Ecological parks are much more low-maintenance than manicured lawns. It’s a win-win situation for the towns and town councils. There are lower development and

˼ TRENDS

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ICONIC

Positive trend Public spaces used to be seen as a burden or a residual space to be filled. Today’s real estate developers see the added value and how it boosts residential quality.

Designs from landscape to stone The design agency OMGEVING works on projects for urban development, land parceling, and public spaces from a landscape perspective. The undeveloped space is always their starting point so that it can play a central role in the living environment. In recent years, they noticed a growing interest from real estate developers and cities to look at public spaces in an eco-friendlier way. Their objective is to turn living environments into places where nature, innovation, and quality of life come together.

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maintenance costs and more opportunities

risk of flooding. The water can drain away

between the private gardens and the public

for biodiversity and climate adaptation.”

naturally.”

spaces. It’s a safe place for children to play

Although the social factor is undoubtedly a

Excess water is no longer considered a prob-

significant advantage, this type of design

lem, but an added value. Today’s integrated

is also necessitated by climate change.

water infiltration systems can easily stand

Tompy Hoedelmans, Landscape Architect at

dry during dry periods but can collect rainwa-

OMGEVING, explains: “By arranging public

ter during wet periods. The residents use the

spaces intelligently, we can start unpaving

collected water for various purposes, such as

larger areas or keep them unpaved. In doing

for taps on the rooftop gardens or for water-

so, we allow the sun’s heat to be absorbed

ing shared vegetable gardens.

and for residents to meet,” concludes Peter.

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rather than reflected. Trees provide shade for people to sit in or to effectively shade

Undeveloped spaces serve as a gift to bio-

homes to keep out the heat. These large

diversity and offer great advantages for

unpaved areas are also useful during heavy

children, also because people are increas-

rainstorms. By letting the soil absorb all the

ingly going for underground parking spaces.

water, we avoid overflowing sewers and the

“Without all the cars, there’s less of a divide

A beautiful example of comfortable living in a green setting will be the historic Panquin site.

˼ ARCHITECTUR AL GEMS

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ICONIC

Shaping the future At the height of 40 meters, the mirrored building holds the potential to become one of Rotterdam’s new icons and attract 100,000 visitors a year.

DEPOT

Boijmans Van Beuningen Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen will open its doors in Rotterdam later this year. For the first time ever, an entire art collection will be opened to the public. Designed by Dutch architect Winy Maas, the depot’s dynamics are entirely different from the 1935 museum of the same name. While there are no temporary exhibitions, you can explore 151,000 art objects and observe the restoration of works of art.

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© MVRDV

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˼ ARCHITECTUR AL GEMS

ICONIC

A hybrid relationship between the earth and its inhabitants Obscuring the building from most viewpoints and maintaining the site’s individuality helped create a balance between nature and residents.

HORIZON HOUSE

Horizon House, set in the hinterland of Girona, Spain, was designed by RCR Arquitectes in 2003. This configuration is buried in a large embankment that divides the site. This established a unique relationship between residents and land. Its solid glass panels afford an almost entirely uninterrupted view. On the interior, its limited range of materials continues and repeats the qualities of the exterior.

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© Pep Sau

˼ I N C O N V E R S AT I O N

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ICONIC

Antwerp icon redrawn The Boerentoren’s renovation is unique. This project covering 56,000 m² will have an entirely new function, but its look and feel will remain the same.

The sky-high ambitions of Fernand Huts and Davy Demuynck FROM FINANCIAL SKYSCRAPER TO INNOVATIVE CULTURE TOWER

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Urban fabric The culture tower’s central location makes it inseparable from the urban fabric. Along with the cathedral, the Boerentoren dominates Antwerp’s skyline. The “Via Sinjoor” will also be constructed during the works on the tower. This new car-free pedestrian mall between Central Station and the Scheldt will branch around the tower.

˼ I N C O N V E R S AT I O N

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ICONIC

The Phoebus Foundation This is the name given to the foundation in which Fernand Huts and Katoen Natie are placing their art collection. Besides its own exhibitions, The Phoebus Foundation is highly active as a partner of museums worldwide.

Bringing Fernand Huts and Davy Demuynck

we’re made of the same mold: no-nonsense

together generates great chemistry. Both

and innovative. I can only admire the things

businessmen share the same well-defined

he’s accomplishing internationally.”

views, are bursting with ambition, and like to think outside the box. Their joint project

While Fernand Huts may be a man of the

to revive the Boerentoren is a considerable

world, he is a purebred Antwerp native raised

challenge. But that’s precisely what

in Seefhoek. This Flemish art expert also

stimulates them to make history with the

owns an extensive art collection through

culture tower.

The Phoebus Foundation and has organized numerous high-profile exhibitions in

“Fernand, I have an idea.” It would be an under-

recent years. One brainstorming session was

statement to say that the phone call from

enough. The Boerentoren will be a culture

Davy Demuynck, ION’s CEO, to Antwerp’s top

tower. Katoen Natie will acquire the building,

entrepreneur Fernand Huts was an inspired

and ION will renovate the iconic skyscraper

move. “For ION to win the KBC tender, we had

from start to finish.

to be creative and innovative.”

“The more culture a city can offer, the — No-nonsense and innovative

more appeal it will have,” says Huts. “The

For the Boerentoren’s renovation, Davy

Boerentoren

Demuynck immediately thought of a part-

value. It symbolizes the financial and eco-

nership with Katoen Natie. “My own career

nomic emancipation of Flanders. We want

started with Fernand Huts, and I know that

to convert the tower into an artistic and

has

tremendous

heritage

'Our ambition with The Phoebus Foundation is to join the world’s top names, such as Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid.

— Fernand Huts

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Huts Tower?

Will there be a Huts Tower soon? “Definitely not,” laughs Huts. “The only appropriate name for such an iconic building is the Boerentoren. And that name is engrained in the minds of all Antwerp citizens. And anyway, it was the farmers who paid for that tower in the 1930s.”

˼ I N C O N V E R S AT I O N

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A sustainable story Sustainable project development is part of ION’s DNA. Also, Katoen Natie has well-defined views on green energy. “When it comes to sustainability, the Boerentoren will be an exceptionally fascinating test case, for example, for thermal sewage energy. We definitely aspire to make it a sustainable and ecological story. At the same time, we have to keep in mind the existing situation. This is not a greenfield. We are still in the surveying stages, but we are definitely going to build something future-proof and sustainable.”

ICONIC

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Via Sinjoor Via Sinjoor is a new car-free pedestrian mall between Central Station and the river Scheldt and will draw all Antwerp citizens and visitors to the Boerentoren.

social reference point for both Antwerp and

will be made passable. This allows passersby

Natie is an international company established

Flanders. The Boerentoren 2.0 will become a

to stroll through, linger, and be stimulated to

in forty countries. We also have ambitions

culture tower that everyone can be proud of.”

take a look inside.”

with The Phoebus Foundation to join the world’s top names, such as Museo Thyssen-

— Philanthropy

— Future-proof

Bornemisza in Madrid. It’s quite a challenge,

After being vacant for some time, the monu-

ION has become one of the top five players in

but that’s what stimulates us to build a mon-

ment will be given a new lease on life. It will

Belgium in a very short time. This extraordi-

ument that is entirely future-proof.”

have exhibition areas, movie theaters, an art

nary project will place the West Flemish real

depot, a restoration studio, and a sculpture

estate developer even more prominently on

garden. The first and second floors will fea-

the map. “This project is the largest yet that

ture retail spaces as well as offices, apart-

we will develop in a single phase. It will put

ments, and hospitality venues. There will

us to the test in every way possible. But I am

be two panoramic rooms with spectacular

confident that we are ready for this. In fact,

views of Antwerp. “This is a tale of philan-

we will have a dedicated team working full

thropy unseen in Europe,” adds Davy. “Nearly

time on this project.”

all buildings of such dimensions have closed doors. We endeavor to open the tower to the

Are you tempted to go international? It is

public as much as possible. We want to return

only natural that the tower will also become

the Boerentoren to the people as a source of

a familiar concept internationally, says Huts.

experience. So, the bottom of the building

“In terms of industrial economics, Katoen

The Boerentoren was completed in 1931.

At the time, it was 87.5 meters high and Belgium’s first skyscraper and Europe’s tallest tower building.

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˼ FINANCE

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ICONIC

Pioneer in Belgium IRP is Belgium’s first institutional investment platform, which confirms ION’s innovative character.

ION Residential Platform The future of Belgium’s rental market Most residential real estate today is in the

“ION Residential Platform’s (IRP) objective

than investors who own entire buildings.

hands of private individuals. In that regard,

is to make long-term investments in the res-

This means that, as institutional investors,

we differ from other European countries,

idential rental market,” says Sam Bordon,

we can truly make a contribution.”

where large corporate operators rent out

Investment Director at ION. “This is driven

thousands of properties professionally. ION

mainly by rising real estate prices on the one

Sam believes that other initiatives are sure

firmly believes the time has come to bring

hand, which means that fewer and fewer

to follow; in fact, there are already entre-

this trend to Belgium. In collaboration with

people can buy a property. The other factor

preneurs with similar plans. “We believe

international institutional asset managers

is the increasing interest from real estate

these are positive signs. It just means

Bouwinvest Real Estate Investors and

developers in selling an entire building to a

we’re not alone in spotting these trends. It

CBRE Global Investment Partners, ION is

single final investor at one time.”

will also allow the market to improve more

investing 280 million euros in new-build

quickly. There is such a tremendous need for

homes and apartments exclusively for the

Line Verroken of CBRE says the step toward

high-quality, affordable rental housing that

rental market.

professionalization is a smart move: “We

there is certainly room for multiple players

have seen in other countries that this

to meet that demand.”

creates functional communal areas and enhances the quality of living. Residential property management is being taken to a new level. Issues such as broken heating boilers are more easily solved. So, it’s also advantageous for tenants.”

As well as the practical side, sustainability also plays a prominent role in this story. “It’s one of the platform’s key objectives,” says Jasper Petit of Bouwinvest. “Building sustainably now and creating cities where people can enjoy pleasant and affordable living is beneficial for long-term returns. What’s more, private individuals have fewer opportunities to invest in sustainable solutions

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New opportunities These days, around 72% of Belgians are homeowners. However, it appears from a recent study that professionals within the industry are expecting home ownership to fall to 65% by 2030. These are tens of thousands of Belgians who will be renting homes rather than owning their own. The number of homeowners is already below 55% in major cities such as Brussels, Antwerp, Charleroi, Ghent, Liege, and Leuven. There is a downward trend, especially in new-builds - also around the major cities. This will create opportunities for both real estate developers and investors.

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˼ S TAT E O F T H E A R T

ICONIC

Reinventing culture after COVID-19 Jef Neve believes that live-streamed concerts will be here to stay and that there will be more opportunities for cross-border collaborations in the future.

Jef Neve on a challenging but inspiring year

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The country went into lockdown in March last

— You started doing live music streams

year. Nobody could have predicted at that

from day one; how do you reflect on those

time what this would mean for the cultural

early beginnings?

sector. While we were all standing in line at

“I am incredibly pleased that I made that

supermarket checkouts, Jef Neve decided

decision, even though it was quite impulsive.

to treat his followers to some online mini-

There was almost a sense of euphoria during

concerts. All he needed was a smartphone

that first lockdown. We felt a kind of excite-

and a piano. This was the start of a year full

ment that something was happening that

of surprises, new insights, and a very cool

we had never experienced before. I suddenly

concept in the form of a series of online

sensed that there was room to offer some-

concerts.

thing in return to my audience for a change.

Everybody was at home, and I thought, well, why not?”

— It eventually turned into the ‘Spring Live Sessions.’ Did this idea just come to you all of a sudden?

“No, it grew organically. Having gone live on Facebook and Instagram every day for two months, we switched to a paid platform. I performed these shows from my studio in Sint-Martens-Latem with a small team, but

˼ S TAT E O F T H E A R T

32

ICONIC

150 concert programs That’s just how many programs the pianist rehearsed in the past year. Typically, there would be 5 per year.

eventually, we wanted to do it more profes-

— Do you expect there to be any

sionally. We expanded the team and took the

noticeable changes in the cultural world?

visuals and sound to the next level. For me,

“Yes, I think live streaming will become

the icing on the cake was the ‘Spring Sessions’

increasingly common. Virtual festivals such

that we eventually produced, thanks in part to

as Tomorrowland have also received a major

ION’s support. We worked hard to get every-

push, and the stage has been set for cross-bor-

thing in place. It may sound crazy in a time of a

der collaborations. They are all things that I

pandemic, but I have met so many new people

wasn’t concerned with before the pandemic,

in the past year. Not only talented artists but

and now I am. I am looking forward to seeing

also the audience, the listeners. It has been

where we will be, and I hope that some of the

a remarkable year for everyone, and every

changes will be permanent.”

now and then, the stories come out during those concerts. That does create a sense of

— Finally, what is your view of the future?

connection.”

“I’m a positive person! When I compare the situation with last year, I feel that we’ve

— Has that connection with the audience

already come a long way in terms of health

always been significant to you?

care. I just hope that the politicians and the

“Yes, you can say that. I am always keen to

cultural sector will take enough initiative to

be at the CD stand after a concert for signing

deal with it. Also, I think that as a society,

sessions or to meet people. In fact, my listen-

we have learned something from the crisis. I

ers are my sounding board, and I value their

learned to appreciate things much more; sud-

opinions. Some of the stories we heard went

denly, you recognize the value of small things.

straight to my heart. With the contact being

Such as how nice it is to be able to decide how

digital, a lot of people opened their hearts by

many people you invite to your birthday party

writing it all down. They also really took their

or organize a barbecue when the weather is

time for it. Usually, this kind of thing doesn’t

good. We all reflected on that last year, and I

happen because signing sessions tend to be

think that’s very positive.”

very casual. People sent me emails telling me about what they felt at the concert or what is happening in their lives. There were a lot of lonely people who were really looking forward to our concerts. One woman told me that our concerts had given her the courage to carry on. She told me that she had been at a very low point and had almost given up. That kind of thing really hits home. It made me realize that our concerts are also comforting. More than ever, I have felt that connecting with my audience is essential, in both directions.”

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'It may sound crazy in a time of a pandemic, but I have met a lot of new people in the past year.

˼ SPEAKERS CORNER

34

ICONIC

100th employee On signing his contract as a Business Unit Manager for Wallonia, Pierre Gielen became ION’s 100th permanent employee. An excellent milestone in the growth of our team.

ION believes that Wallonia holds a great future

35

'City councils have neither the time nor the resources required for their development.

CEO Kristof Vanfleteren and Pierre Gielen

— You took a new step in the group’s

meet at the confluence of the Sambre

expansion with the Namur business unit.

and Meuse rivers. Pierre only just started

What made you decide to expand your

as a Business Unit Manager on the ION

business into Wallonia?

team barely three days ago. And that was

Kristof: There’s a whole market waiting to

after a 23-year career at Eckelmans. The

be developed in Wallonia. Whereas the local

CEO and his new recruit taking a look at

players are primarily involved in the residen-

the future from the Citadel that towers

tial sector, ION also has experience in very

over Namur. At least it seems certain that

different areas, such as service flats, logis-

there are plenty of opportunities waiting

tics, and social housing.

for them.

— What are your plans for ION activities there?

Kristof: We firmly believe in having a solid local base. All regions have their own specific characteristics, which makes each development different. This is why it is vital to find someone locally with good references and an extensive network while also having a strong sense of ION’s DNA. That person turned out to be Pierre.

˼ SPEAKERS CORNER

36

ICONIC

350,000 additional housing units That is how many units are estimated to be needed in Wallonia by 2050. Real estate developers like ION can play key roles in this.

Pierre: For me, based in Namur, it’s a great

Pierre: There are also business parks that are

comfort that I can rely on the back-office in

continuing to expand. So, we are up against

Waregem. They have a great deal of exper-

quite some challenges, both in the residen-

tise there. It would be a shame not to take

tial and economic real estate markets. What

advantage of that.

first attracted me to ION was the ability to develop and revive entire neighborhoods

— ION presents itself as an innovative

with a diversity of functions. These may be

and carbon-neutral real estate developer.

service flats, residential neighborhoods, or

Does the Walloon market suit your

public buildings.

objectives in terms of urban planning, architecture, and sustainability?

When I look at how Paul Magnette and his

Pierre: The Government of Wallonia wants

team want to revive Charleroi with their

to create some 350,000 additional housing

strategic vision of urban development, I am

units by 2040 to accommodate demographic

confident that there are plenty of opportuni-

growth. That’s more than 10,000 a year. And

ties for us to fulfill their political ambitions.

this is without even mentioning the concrete ban that also exists here or the planned renovations to the energy-efficiency of existing buildings Therefore, our objectives are entirely consistent with Wallonia’s intentions.

— What are the biggest challenges in Wallonia?

Kristof: First of all, we want to offer affordable and high-quality housing. To do this, we are reaching out to the local authorities and other partners. We hope to be able to invest in this type of rental housing with a formula such as ION Residential Platform (cf. page 28).

Infrastructure is another significant challenge. The city councils in Flanders have realized that they have neither the time nor the resources for developing real estate on their own. That explains the increasing number of Public-Private Partnerships. I believe that we can be partners with local authorities in that respect as well.

•

37

'All regions have their own specific characteristics.

38

˼ S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

ICONIC

'The heat distribution grid allows us to supply Suikerpark with entirely carbonneutral heating.

39

This is unique in Flanders In contrast to other heat distribution grids in Flanders, the heating for Suikerpark will not be generated in a central natural gas-fired furnace but will be fed by residual heat from the nearby PepsiCo oven.

Suikerpark Veurne where the residual heat from a potato chips oven keeps the neighborhood warm The homes and apartments in Veurne’s

— New life

heating will be entirely carbon-neutral, and

new neighborhood Suikerpark will soon

Sixteen years after the closure of its sugar

the plant’s carbon emissions will be drasti-

all be heated thanks to a giant heat

factory, Stad Veurne, WVI, and ION are

cally reduced once the heat distribution grid

distribution grid. The heat will come from

joining forces to revive the site. Thanks to

link is operational.

the residual heat of the potato chips

European and Flemish subsidies and the

oven of the nearby PepsiCo plant, which

collaboration with Fluvius and Noven, they

— Towards a sustainable future

is unique in Belgium. Fluvius is already

built a heat distribution grid to ensure that

Suikerpark is only the beginning because the

operating many heat distribution grids in

the housing units will not require their own

objective is to use the heat distribution grid

Flanders, but this will be the first one to

individual heating systems. The waste heat

to heat several neighborhoods in Veurne.

connect to industrial residual heat.

from the PepsiCo plant will be recovered and

And that’s not all. Solar panels on the

distributed through an underground piping

Suikertoren will provide renewable energy,

network.

and the water from the bathrooms will also be treated and reused. This means that res-

— Climate-neutral by 2050

idents will never need to worry about main-

This is a tremendous move in the right

taining gas boilers, and they will also be get-

direction because Europe wants all mem-

ting affordable and fair green energy right at

ber states to be climate-neutral by 2050. To

the same time.

achieve that objective, we will need to make maximum use of renewable heat. This heat distribution grid can be an example for many future projects because the neighborhood’s

•

˼ TECHNOLOGY

40

ICONIC

Supported by AMAVI Shayp is one of AMAVI’s investments, an independent investment fund that seeks to connect the traditional real estate sector with pioneering PropTech companies.

Shayp detects water leaks in real-time Some 35 percent of Flanders’ drinking

The Belgian start-up has developed a tiny

— Ambitious mission

water is wasted due to water leaks in

device that can automatically monitor a

The founders’ objective is to drastically

buildings and infrastructure. Shayp’s

building’s daily water consumption. This

reduce water wastage in Flanders. By

founders agree that this is an astonishing

device easily attaches to the water meter and

2022, they want to save as many as 100

figure. They developed a technology for

runs on its own battery without the need for

billion gallons a year with their water mon-

real-time leak detection. Their objective is

Wi-Fi or electricity. When it detects a water

itors. That may seem like a lot, but when

to reduce worldwide water consumption by

leak, it immediately sends an alert by text

you know that one in seven buildings in

30 percent.

message. This means that a lot less water

Flanders has one or more water leakages,

and money will be wasted.

you can soon appreciate the problem’s scale. Then there’s also the rising price of

— Pulse system

water. A leaking toilet can cost upwards of

Since 2000, all water meters have been fit-

7,000 euros per year.

ted with pulse systems, which are rotating meters. This allows Shayp to detect leaks,

Shayp has already come a long way since its

as one rotation is equivalent to a one-liter

start-up in October 2017. Initially, the focus

consumption. With every rotation of the

will be on public buildings and major projects,

meter, Shayp measures the corresponding

but in the future, they want to target the pri-

consumption. If there any irregularities, it

vate market as well. To help achieve its future

usually means that there is a leak.

plans, Shayp can rely on the enthusiastic support of multiple investors, including AMAVI,

You can see all the info the device collects in

the PropTech investment fund that ION also

Shayp’s user-friendly app. Besides warnings

co-founded.

of possible leaks, consumers will also gain more insight into their water consumption.

•

41

From left to right: Alexandre McCormack, Zineddine Wakrim, and Grégoire de Hemptinne.

Award-winning technology In January 2020, Shayp earned the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label for its innovative technology. Shayp’s approach is both costeffective and environmentally friendly. This is an end-to-end solution from identifying to detecting water leaks.

˼ UNDER CONSTRUC TION

42

ICONIC

A new skyline in Waregem Welcome to Waterfront, where living, working, visiting, and recreation all come together. The two residential towers, Ascot and Windsor, make up the heart of this prestigious overall project.

UNDER CON STRUC TION

43

˼ THE RESIDENT

44

ICONIC

HaZee, a powerful collaboration The new-build project at Ostend station is a collaboration between architectural firms A1AR and ARQ architecten.

Sustainable working in HaZee When A1AR architects & more signed

— What context did you use to

for the HaZee project in Ostend’s station

design HaZee?

neighborhood, it was love at first sight.

Jozef: “HAZee has a unique location. Over

So much so that they decided to move in

the years, the City of Ostend has strongly

themselves. “We have never regretted

focused on inner-city development, and its

that decision for a moment,” says Founder

current focus is on a new sustainable train

and Architect Jozef Hessel. “Since our

station neighborhood. Something like this is

move, just about everyone comes by

not always easy. Helping to shape a station

public transportation or bike.”

neighborhood is an extraordinary assignment for us. This is sometimes complicated by the diversity of functions in the project. We see this more as a challenge rather than a problem. For instance, we decided to incorporate part of the street into the design.”

— Why did you move with A1AR? Jozef: “We almost immediately reached an unspoken decision to take up residence in HaZee. Our former offices were in an industrial area in Ostend, which was much harder to reach by public transport. “HaZee is near

45

'We view problems as challenges. How can we get a mixture of different aspects to work together perfectly?

— Jozef Hessel, Architect and Founder of A1AR

In 2015, Jozef Hessel founded the architectural firm A1AR together with Kenneth Sleuyter, Jozef graduated from LUCA School of Arts in 2008 with a Master’s in Architecture and Urban Design.

˼ THE RESIDENT

46

ICONIC

HaZee, a powerful collaboration The new-build project at Ostend station is a collaboration between architectural firms A1AR and ARQ architecten.

For Managing Director Kenneth Sleuyter, every challenge is an excellent start to a fascinating process. HaZee is a perfect example of this.

the train station, and since our move, just

— Just what is your definition of

about everyone arrives by public transporta-

architecture, and how is this reflected in

tion or bike. By moving the office to the city

this project?

center, the connection with our second office

Jozef: “We see architecture as the interpre-

in Ghent has also improved. Other than the

tation of a sustainable society. Our designs

location, the project’s vision is also key. With

require a 24/7 connection with the environ-

A1AR, we want to play the card of quality and

ment. HaZee is an example of that It is not

sustainability, but in our former building, we

a given that people can walk or bike across

didn’t get the right gut feeling.”

a private site. That added experience makes the site one of the city’s many welcoming

— Does HaZee have any other advantages

places. That way, you can create a project

for you as an agency?

that will help to shape urban planning even

Jozef: “We wanted to tap into a sustainable

further.”

environment where our employees feel good too. We know from experience that entirely focusing on work is difficult these days because we are constantly multitasking.

With our new office, we want to make a commitment to a powerful team. At A1AR, we work according to the people-planet-profit principle. The initial intention was to invest in our own people, then in the planet. Once that is done, profit becomes a matter of course.

Apart from choosing to create a better workplace for our own employees, we also want to make our mark and help to shape the station neighborhood’s development.”

•

SPOT LIGHT

HaZee offers views of the queen of seaside towns LIVING, WORKING, AND STUDYING IN OSTEND

48

˼ HAZEE

'HaZee is a beautiful and exclusive new-build project located between the railway station and Maria Hendrikapark in Ostend. The building brings a fresh breath of air to the edge of the historic Hazegras neighborhood and is home to residents, students, and the A1AR architectural firm.

ICONIC

49

IN NUMBERS MIXED URBAN DEVELOPMENT SURFACE AREA 3.350 M 2` 48 STUDENT ROOMS 18 APARTMENTS 1 OFFICE AREA INVESTMENT VALUE 13.5 MILLION EUROS ARCHITECTS A1AR ARQ ARCHITECTEN

˼ HAZEE

50

Waking up “with a view” Thanks to the apartments’ magnificent windows, you can wake up every day with phenomenal views of Ostend.

ICONIC

51

'We see architecture as the interpretation of a sustainable society.

Our designs require a 24/7 connection with the environment.

— Jozef Hessel, Architect and Founder of A1AR

52

˼ HAZEE

ICONIC

53

Sense the sea Relax on your private terrace with a glass balustrade and enjoy the sea breezes and the rolling sound of the sea that is within walking distance.

HaZee’s beautifully designed areas are made with classy materials.

54

˼ HAZEE

ICONIC

55

Living in the very heart of Ostend, the perfect location for young and old.

˼ HAZEE

56

ICONIC

Varied clientele This mixture of 48 student rooms, 18 apartments, and an office area is intended to create a 24/7 experience that strongly enhances social cohesion.

'ION’s three pillars of innovation, sustainability, and architecture are reflected beautifully in this project.

— Matthieu Pacco, Business Unit Manager, West Flanders North

The building is clad in quality natural stone with soft colors that blend in well with the surroundings.

57

˼ HAZEE

58

ICONIC

Ostend revives This project is situated in an area that is undergoing rapid expansion, with a firm commitment to the quality of the public domain.

It is a public site, which enhances the experience. It’s one of the city’s welcoming places for people to walk and cycle.

59

'The project’s objective is to connect the station with Maria Hendrikapark.

˼ HAZEE

60

Sky-high architecture The 100-meter tower will change Ostend’s skyline forever.

The site is bordered by the VIVES University of Applied Sciences and the railway station and provides the opportunity to participate in developing a new district.

ICONIC

61

Iconic, the sixth edition august 2021

CONTACT info@ion.be www.ion.be

EDITING AND DESIGN d-artagnan

ION Vredestraat 53 8790 Waregem, Belgium

This magazine is a publication of ION Vredestraat 53, 8790 Waregem, Belgium V.U. Davy Demuynck

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