- Location: Linkebeek, Belgium
- Program: Masterplan, Office, Revitalization
- Area: Masterplan:19.9 h; Office: 3.400 m²; Lab: 2.300 m2; Storage: 2.900 m²
- Year: 2025
- Status: Competition entry
Our proposal for the ENGIE Laborelec campus envisioned a transformation of two existing buildings into a vibrant hub for research, innovation, and collaboration.
The Office Hub (Building E) reinterpreted a modernist structure as a dynamic administrative center. A transparent ground floor opened the building to its surroundings, fostering a sense of connection across the site. Inside, flexible office landscapes created a balance between focused work and collective exchange, supported by energy-conscious upgrades, circular material strategies, and smart climate technologies.
The Lab Hub (Building D) was designed as a contemporary research facility defined by openness and adaptability. Flexible laboratory environments encouraged collaboration while accommodating future change. At its heart, the Lab Plein provided an outdoor arena for testing and demonstration, extending the laboratories into the landscape and strengthening the flow of movement across the campus.
Sustainability and innovation guided the project at every scale. Heat pumps, photovoltaic panels, and enhanced insulation improved energy performance, while a circular design strategy emphasized the reuse of existing structures and materials. Bioclimatic principles shaped light, air, and thermal comfort, reducing environmental impact through the intelligent use of natural resources. Smart infrastructure systems—ventilation, lighting, and water management—reinforced the holistic approach.
The transformation was conceived in three phases to allow seamless integration with ongoing operations: establishing site connections and a new entrance axis, reconfiguring mobility and landscaping, and ultimately developing external and recreational spaces. Together, these phases envisioned a cohesive, future-proof environment where science, work, and community could converge.
Although unbuilt, the project reflects our belief that architecture can unlock the potential of existing structures—creating places that are sustainable, adaptable, and inspiring for generations to come.