L'ancienne Royale Belge - MIX

In 1965, architects René Stapels (Brussels) and Pierre Dufau (Paris) are given the mission to "imagine a resolutely contemporary building", destined to accommodate some 2000 employees of La Royale Belge, a historic insurance company. They have a green setting of several hectares as their playground, at the edge of the Forêt de Soignes, benefiting from both direct access to the highway and an extraordinary landscaped scenography! Emboldened by this exceptional site, the architects design a colossal building in the shape of a Greek cross that seems to levitate above a fully glazed square base. The rust hue of the steel structure and the golden reflections of the reflective glazing signal this powerful architectural object from afar. As for the luxurious and modern interior, it offers a working environment focused on well-being and efficiency. In the impressive entrance hall, the auditorium is encircled by the "Piliers Célestes" of Pierre Sabatier. La Royale Belge achieves the status of an international icon of corporate architecture. Years pass, and with them the abandonment of the building... but the icon is worth preserving and is fortunately listed on the safeguard list. After three study missions carried out by the MA2 studio (a set of historical and architectural notes on the existing pathologies, a master plan sketch, and a feasibility study), the building is entirely renovated by a team of architects: the British firm Caruso St John Architects (London) and the Belgian firm Bovenbouw Architectuur (Antwerp), as well as the firms DDS+, MA2 (Francis Metzger), and EOLE (Anne-Marie Sauvat) for the heritage and landscape aspects. The interior design is entrusted to nearly 52 Belgian and international designers. Rehabilitated into a multifunctional complex, the emblematic building now houses the MIX, a giant "place to be" including a 4-star hotel, several restaurants, coworking spaces, and a highly popular sports and wellness center of over 5000 m2. Reintegrating the edifice into Brussels' life and urban fabric, this rehabilitation was rewarded in 2024 by the European Heritage Europa Nostra Award.