BEL071 – SPORTS TOWER
The new sports center is designed with clarity and generosity in mind: a logical sequence of functions, precise proportions, and bright, welcoming spaces. Compact yet distinctive, the building is instantly recognizable and filled with natural light, shaped around the needs of its users. More than just a facility, it is a piece of urban architecture that acts as an inclusive catalyst for the region, the canal zone, and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Located at the edge of the future Max-Sur-Senne Park, between the canal and the Pertuis de la Senne, the project makes smart use of its limited footprint. A carefully considered stacking system ensures a compact volume with minimal façade development.
The sports hall crowns the building on the fifth floor, stretching almost 30 meters wide and rising to an impressive 21 meters high, offering sweeping views across the landscape.
Below, the building is organized into two main zones. To the north, a dramatic climbing hall extends vertically through the lower levels, with technical and logistical facilities at the base. To the south, a more intricate layering of spaces accommodates changing rooms, storage, and other supporting functions. A duplex on the third and fourth floors houses the gym and changing rooms, conveniently positioned between the gym and the main sports hall for smooth and efficient circulation.
Sustainability and circularity are at the heart of the design. From the outset, the load-bearing structure was conceived in timber sourced from the Sonian Forest. As the project evolved, concrete elements were introduced to balance cost and durability. On the fifth floor, however, the roof of the sports hall remains a striking timber vault built using the traditional Zollinger technique: a diamond-shaped grid of wooden beams that saves material, enhances efficiency, and lends the space a warm, inviting character.