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Cigarette factory reborn as a light-filled city hall in Brussels

02/20/2017
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  • Molenbeek-Saint-Jean City Hall by Mamout
    A building that once belonged to a cigarette factory has shed its smoky past for a new life in civil service. <a href="http://www.mamout.be" target="_blank">Mamout Architects</a>, <a href="http://www.ld2.eu/" target="_blank">LD2 Architecture</a>, and Stéphanie Willocx transformed the industrial structure into a two-story <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/city-hall" target="_blank">city-hall</a> branch in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, a multicultural municipality in Brussels, Belgium. The modern renovated building is punctuated with large windows to let in natural light and to emphasize connection and transparency with the community.
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  • Molenbeek-Saint-Jean City Hall by Mamout
    The three Brussels-based architecture firms won a design competition to transform the industrial site into a new council office complete with a waiting room and administrative offices.
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  • Molenbeek-Saint-Jean City Hall by Mamout
    The architects preserved much of the existing structure but revamped the facade with large glazed sections and improvements for better energy performance.
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  • Molenbeek-Saint-Jean City Hall by Mamout
    The minimally decorated interior features high ceilings, a light color palette, and a connection to the outdoors through the large windows and access to natural light.
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  • Molenbeek-Saint-Jean City Hall by Mamout
    Remnants from the building’s history can be seen throughout the adaptive reuse project, such as the gray pavers and aging concrete beams and columns.
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  • Molenbeek-Saint-Jean City Hall by Mamout
    "The proposal takes advantage of the existing situation by inserting the program in a fluid and logical disposal into the structure, without degrading it," said Stéphanie Willocx, Mamout and LD2 Architecture to Dezeen.
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  • Molenbeek-Saint-Jean City Hall by Mamout
    New additions, like the tables, windows, and counters, are aligned with the concrete beams for a clean and orderly appearance.
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  • Molenbeek-Saint-Jean City Hall by Mamout
    Molenbeek-Saint-Jean City Hall by Mamout
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  • Molenbeek-Saint-Jean City Hall by Mamout
    Section
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  • Molenbeek-Saint-Jean City Hall by Mamout
    Floor plan
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  • Molenbeek-Saint-Jean City Hall by Mamout
    Floor plan
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Molenbeek-Saint-Jean City Hall by Mamout

A building that once belonged to a cigarette factory has shed its smoky past for a new life in civil service. Mamout Architects, LD2 Architecture, and Stéphanie Willocx transformed the industrial structure into a two-story city-hall branch in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, a multicultural municipality in Brussels, Belgium. The modern renovated building is punctuated with large windows to let in natural light and to emphasize connection and transparency with the community.

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Categories:  Architecture
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