Client: Befimmo S.A.
Architect: Jaspers & Eyers/51n4e/AUC
Completion: 2023
Specialist planner:
Photographer: Philippe van Gelooven
New momentum for Brussels North
With the ZIN project, a pioneering building complex was built in the north of Brussels. On the site of the former World Trade Center Towers 1 and 2, a multifunctional ensemble with an area of around 110,000 square meters was created. It combines office space, co-working areas, apartments, hotel offers as well as catering and retail under one roof.
A central goal of the project was the consistent implementation of a circular economy in construction. As early as the planning phase, materials from existing buildings were systematically recorded and evaluated. Around 95% of construction waste was received, recycled or reused elsewhere on site — including up to 30,000 tons of old concrete. The symbolic cornerstone was also made of recycled concrete and was certified with the Cradle to Cradle® silver label.
The building meets high standards in architecture, sustainability and resource conservation. It is an example of a new generation of major inner-city projects that combine ecological responsibility with urban diversity. The name of the building — Marie-Elisabeth Belpaire — is reminiscent of the Flemish writer and education activist who worked to promote girls' education in the 19th century.
