News

18/08/2025

Rabelais: Heritage with a new look

In Ixelles, the Rabelais site has succeeded in achieving a subtle balance between heritage preservation, reuse of materials and contemporary requirements. This renovation project of an old school complex combines architectural ambition with respect for heritage, thereby meeting the wishes of the municipality of Ixelles.  

Circular construction from the design stage onwards, translates into:

• 600 m² of recovered cement tiles
• 340 m³ of bricks manually broken out and cleaned
• restoration of the original joinery and ironwork
• preservation of part of the central hall, with vaults, metal
columns and stairs in blue stone.

This project demonstrates that progress in the construction sector goes hand in hand with the intelligent preservation of yesterday.

In collaboration with WUST
Architects: Urban Platform & R² D² Architecture