Bogdan Chipara - Dragonfly Towers

Dragonfly Towers

Rue de Mot 24-28, Brussels.
Residential: 47.072m² 190m tall, Aparthotel: 39.855m² 160m tall

The location of the plot is much more valuable than the existing buildings on it. Situated between Parc du Cinquantenaire and Park Leopold, the area of 7000m², with a North-West - South-East main orientation, it stands where the density of built urban fabric decreases considerably. Narrowed down between two parks and aligned with Av. d'Auderghem the plot has a strong potential for a new high-rise residential development. Brussels EU headquarters, located within the nearby Schuman area, contribute to the vibrant life of the city which can further be extended with a proper high-density intervention.

The existing buildings might have some architectural value as the current programme of office space is hosted behind the modernist facades, but once transformed into residentials, they might lose their character and most disappointing, shift towards a structuralist aspect. This risks reinforcing the monotony of nearby residential buildings on Av. d'Auderghem 50 - 60, which block behind them the Jourdan area.

A high-rise will not only stand out as an addition with contemporary character but also connect the city rather than further fragment it. It can bring additional quality of life by increasing the density in a spot where it is low and with a sky-garden, predominant in this design, reinforce the connection between the two parks. The newly proposed residentials will benefit from outstanding views over these green areas and volumetrically the building mass will emphasize Av. d'Auderghem pointing towards Rdpt Robert Schuman - an important city node for Brussels.

To promote a diversified character, the twin towers host an apart-hotel on the South-East lower volume, and apartments of various sizes in the higher one, in the North West. A mixed strategy can make the intervention feasible, as several stakeholders might show interest. It will also make it possible to dedicate space inside the building to, and maintain, various amenities such as retail, a kindergarten, a gym and several swimming pools and properly maintain the sky garden. The cost being split in large proportion between the hotel and the luxury apartments, while the residents of the smaller "affordable" units can still benefit from them while paying less.

In terms of architectural vocabulary, the new design takes strong inspiration from Art-Nouveau and Brutalist movements, both much more representative for the city of Brussels. The pattern of the external super-structure and the slenderness of the towers reminds one of the wings of a dragonfly. Inspired from nature, this pattern is many times present in Art-Nouveau architectural elements, while the raw concrete of the superstructure, rounded using Catmull-Clark subdivision and the color coated glass behind it take inspiration from Brutalism.

As the towers decrease in thickness, the apartment distribution changes, and large units are therefore mixed with smaller ones. The base, which is already high and transparent, was carved in the middle to make space for a large urban plaza accessible to the city and thus making the building feel friendly and open. Much of the traffic on Rue de Mot is diverted using two generous ramps towards the underground parking, located in the NW SE corners of the plot. As traffic is deviated underground, Rue de Mot can accommodate pedestrian traffic and sporadic auto traffic for the drop-off of the hotel.

The space on the East side of the plot, the back area of d'Auderghem 50 - 60, which now looks much like a residual space, can be transformed into an urban garden with the new plaza acting as an entrance. The base of the twin towers is kept slender, narrowing down slightly inwards to make space for the public area surrounding the building.

The space inside the double skin facade, high, decorated and luxurious in appearance, and the wide heavily planted terraces are features present for all units, hotel and residential small and large alike. The skin protects the units from high winds and enriches the appearance of the towers as spaces of contemplation and activity with broad views over the city. The round shape emphasizes the 360 experience characteristic for this new residential development.