Brussel - Beursschouwburg

The complete study and design assignment for the transformation and renovation of the Beursschouwburg in Brussels was awarded to Bovenbouw Architectuur.

Bovenbouw Architectuur will renovate the iconic Beursschouwburg with ‘radical empathy’. In doing so, the designers look for an interface between the stylistic features of the existing architecture and a new, subtle interpretation that strengthens and deepens the old. Bovenbouw starts from the DNA of the place and builds on the concept used by B-architecten in a first renovation 20 years ago. The project thus continues to build on the architectural, technical and operational uniqueness of the Beursschouwburg.  

To increase the capacity and possibilities for simultaneous use of the halls, the inner street will be transformed into a swirling connecting space. All four auditoriums will be accessed from this central hall and two new, gracefully rotating staircases will serve the auditoriums on the upper floors. This gives the stairwell a new dynamic character with more opportunities for social interaction. The routing is clear from entering.  

The café becomes a lively and active place on Auguste Ortsstraat and opens up to the public space to the maximum extent. A mezzanine in the café strengthens the relationship with the street and allows the café to be used as a performance space. The multipurpose space at the back is in direct relation to the café but can also be used separately. A new multipurpose space above the café is created and occupies an important position along the façade. The theatre auditorium will have a mobile stage extension. All rooms will be acoustically addressed and circulation on the upper floors will be optimised.

New materials will be used sparingly in the renovation work. Wherever possible, materials will be recovered and repaired, giving character to the conversion. The designers will deal responsibly with the ambitions, the context and the available resources, adopting a strategy that allows for adjustment and new insights in the future.

The Beursschouwburg is known as an audacious venue that nurtures experimentation and emerging talent. With some 500 multidisciplinary public events a year covering a wide range of disciplines and formats, the Beursschouwburg is a vibrant place of meeting, dialogue and creative exchange. Since it was founded in 1965, the Beursschouwburg has been a driver of new initiatives and practices: a dynamic transit zone for new forms and voices. As the world changes, the Beursschouwburg not only helps to lead the effort, but also fearlessly shows its solidarity with organizations in the field. The venue radiates a dynamic atmosphere where different art forms come together and inspire each other: from high-profile performances and film screenings via exhibitions and cutting-edge music performances to in-depth lectures and debates. The Beursschouwburg operates as:

• a platform for the presentation and development of diverse artistic practices and artistic research;
• a network in which collaboration with formal and informal partners, try-outs, experiments and support for artists, collectives and thinkers are central;
• a hub that brings together different communities, questions normativity and welcomes new stories and ideas.

Located in the heart of Brussels, on Auguste Ortsstraat, the building includes a café (capacity 250), concert hall (capacity 178), theatre hall (capacity 134) and small cinema (capacity 30) as well as a spacious meeting room (capacity 30) and small staff room. The exhibition space and the offices are located on the side of the building, on Karperbrug, so the entrance on this street is also important.

Concrete occasion

Since the last renovation twenty years ago, the Beursschouwburg’s artistic activities have grown and expanded considerably. New disciplines such as visual arts and film have been included, and the Beurscafé is no longer just a meeting place: it also serves as a base for the discursive programme, with talks, lectures, debates and round-table discussions held there. However, intensive use of the building has left its mark. Many technical installations are in urgent need of replacement. At the same time, the needs in terms of energy and sustainability have been heightened by the energy crisis. The Beursschouwburg wants to seize this opportunity to make the building future-proof. The ambition is to make the Beursschouwburg fundamentally sustainable and to evolve towards a building that is no longer dependent on fossil fuels. This intention is entirely in line with the climate objectives of the Flemish Government to make all public buildings carbon-neutral by 2045 at the latest.

In part under the guidance of the Flemish and Brussels Government Architects, a feasibility study was carried out by De Smet Vermeulen architecten in 2018. Building on this, additional aspects were studied in 2022 by a design team coordinated by Hasa architecten. These reports form the framework for the programme of requirements and the relevant budgeting for this assignment.

The why of this renovation

With the renovation plans, we aim at more than just alleviating energetic and technical needs. After all, the infrastructure hampers the implementation of the artistic vision. The Beursschouwburg currently programs with the brakes on because of several factors: poor internal circulation, forced underutilisation of some spaces, inadequate acoustic insulation…

Since the last renovation, the social and urban context in which the Beursschouwburg operates has also undergone a considerable evolution. With the creation of the pedestrian zone and the renovation of the nearby Stock Exchange building, a special momentum has been launched to consolidate the Beursschouwburg’s anchoring in the neighbourhood. In this new urban environment, the Beursschouwburg sees both challenges and opportunities. The venue wants to further emphasize its metropolitan and urban character by letting the building and the city blend into one another and by lowering thresholds for (new) audiences. The Beursschouwburg wants to be a ‘third place’ where people don’t just come for a specific performance or activity but can simply enjoy being together. Audience expansion and accessibility are keywords here, without compromising the Beursschouwburg’s unique identity as a haven for experimental, absurd and niche art forms. An additional challenge will be for the Beursschouwburg to maintain its profile as an open arts house in an environment increasingly dominated by commercial players.

The conversion plans aim to provide maximum flexibility so that spaces can be adapted to the various needs of artists and audiences. An undeniable strength of the venue is that its openness and versatility mean that it always captures the zeitgeist and can move quickly. The renovation should continue to guarantee this openness and flexibility.

Specifically, the questions can be summarized as follows:

1. Optimizing the building in terms of sustainability (including drastic energy savings and CO2 reduction), fire safety, acoustics, functionality and accessibility.
2. Reorganizing the ground floor and the public flows to fully fulfil its role as a meeting place.

Included in the assignment and fee

• The following parts of the assignment are included:
• Architectural study (incl. interior design but excl. loose furniture, incl. signage, art project integration support)
• Stability study
  - Study of the techniques (excl. theatre techniques)
  - Study of the acoustics
• Sustainability study
• Fire safety study, fire safety engineering
• EPB
• Safety coordination

Selectievoorwaarden

The candidate must be registered with the Order of Architects (or equivalent - see selection guide 2.1.1)

project team

• The leader of the project team is an expert architect with at least ten years’ experience as project manager on public projects

referentieprojecten

• 1 of the references shows that the candidate has experience in developing an integral approach to sustainability, thorough energy renovation, and CO2 emissions reduction (within the context of a renovation).
• 1 of the references shows that the candidate has experience in optimizing an existing building and its potential uses, the interventions forming a coherent whole.
• 1 of the references shows that the candidate has experience in designing a publicly accessible building that generates interaction with its surroundings

The following holds for these reference projects:

• Each reference should explain the role the designer played in the proposed project
• The references may be realised projects as well as projects in progress or in design phase

Selection and awards criteria

See the selection guideline