The ambition is for everyone to feel at home here, with facilities that are accessible to all and with friendly outdoor spaces. This could mean a bench where you can sit and read your newspaper. Or a shared vegetable garden, or a swing. Or it could be a small square with a café where you can socialize with the neighbours. The life of the whole neighbourhood, beautified and more secure, would thus be enhanced. The value of the surrounding real estate as well. And Pépé, Cyrille and Kevin, who have consulted the municipality's citizen projects, already have some ideas to improve the well-being of all. |
A family project...
The idea for La Vigne Rouge came from Jozef Pint, a local resident. Together with his two grandsons, he runs the recycling company Vanpachtenbeke, whose workshops were formerly located at 411 Chaussée de Roodebeek. As the owners of the now disused hangars, the land and a few abandoned houses, the three of them thought of a humane and sustainable way to bring new value and life to the block.
... AND a neighbourhood project.
This is how La Vigne Rouge was born. The name is a reference to the street’s Flemish name. The housing project is not based on speculative sales, but on a long-term vision: providing quality housing, adapted to all ages and adapted to urban life. La Vigne Rouge will respect the same values as those of the company: sustainability, a local focus, the circular economy, and progress.
A place to feel good.
Sustainability. The intention is to make the foundations and concrete parts of the buildings from material recycled in the family business, Vanpachtenbeke. It doesn’t get much more circular and local than that!
Nature. The symbol of the property, a Red Vine, will climb freely along the facades, adorning itself in autumn with dazzling shades of red under the eye of the trees. Residents with green fingers will be able to cultivate a vegetable garden, the others will enjoy the harvest.
Valorization. Tenants, neighbours, shopkeepers and the entire neighbourhood will benefit from the beautification and new dynamism of this block.
Nature. The symbol of the property, a Red Vine, will climb freely along the facades, adorning itself in autumn with dazzling shades of red under the eye of the trees. Residents with green fingers will be able to cultivate a vegetable garden, the others will enjoy the harvest.
Valorization. Tenants, neighbours, shopkeepers and the entire neighbourhood will benefit from the beautification and new dynamism of this block.
The ambitions of Jozef, Cyrille and Kevin. |
Quality
Neat and integrated architecture
Since it is intended to be long-term, the project has a clear ambition of quality :
– Architecture on a human scale, respectful of the well-being of the inhabitants, with spaces in which to enjoy the sun.
– Architecture inspired by the style of the surrounding buildings.
– Robust materials.
– Pleasant common areas accessible to all ages.
Climate
Permeable soils and carbon neutrality.
Ambitious climate goals :
– Limited paving to promote soil permeability.
– Wild spaces dedicated to bees and insects.
– The presence of water to cool the atmosphere in summer.
– Green facades and roofs.
– CO2-neutral buildings.
– Gasless heating, geothermal energy.
Economy
A whole neighbourhood enhanced.
The project’s long-term objective makes it possible to foresee economic benefits for the entire neighbourhood :
– Increased activity for merchants and cultural actors.
– An increase in the value of the surrounding real estate thanks to the beauty of the block.
– A budget released for public infrastructure.
A global architectural approach. |
Even before drawing up the plans, the family is considering the best way to integrate the project into their neighbourhood and bring added value to the citizens. It is open to all suggestions for improvements, wherever they come from. Its goals are clear: to favour quality architecture, robust, sustainable and local materials, and CO²-neutral buildings. Hence the choice of the urban planners of B-architecten whose philosophy is to "Design sustainable buildings that improve both urban and open spaces". |
The urban planners wanted to create a coherent set of buildings on a human scale integrated into the architectural style of the municipality. The corner building could be raised, as is often the case in Brussels. Openings in the façade could be reminiscent of the open spaces of the workers' houses facing it. All aspects of enabling a pleasant life will be taken into account. For example, to avoid future tenants feeling trapped and to let more light into the block, a breakthrough could be foreseen in the façade at the corner of Rue d'Octobre and Avenue Heydenberg. |
Mobility that meets the challenges of tomorrow.
Smart parking.
Cyrille and Kevin are from the generation that tends to own less and share more. They believe that it is better to take the bike or bus whenever possible and do not intend to clog the streets even more with parked vehicles.
How ?
First, by offering spaces that are only available for rent and open to all, even non-residents. Secondly, by encouraging rotation: the same spot could be reserved during the day for one driver and at night for another. Finally, by reserving spaces for electric vehicles (with charging stations), shared cars and bicycles.
Cyrille and Kevin are from the generation that tends to own less and share more. They believe that it is better to take the bike or bus whenever possible and do not intend to clog the streets even more with parked vehicles.
How ?
First, by offering spaces that are only available for rent and open to all, even non-residents. Secondly, by encouraging rotation: the same spot could be reserved during the day for one driver and at night for another. Finally, by reserving spaces for electric vehicles (with charging stations), shared cars and bicycles.
The project is located in a residential area of gated blocks. The entrance is on the Chaussée de Roodebeek. In the centre of the site, the industrial warehouse consists of two buildings where the vehicles of the family business were repaired. Built in 1947, it was listed in the Inventory of Architectural Heritage in 2016.
The site is characterized by a large difference in level between the highest point to the south-west and the lowest point to the north-east, a difference which is subtly addressed by the rear volume of the hangars.
You can reach La Vigne Rouge by email, phone, Facebook or Instagram. Contact information can be found here.
Its promoters have great ambitions for their project and for the entire neighbourhood. They have finalized a permit application for their project.
Initially, La Vigne Rouge wants to focus on “soft” road users. Easy-to-access bicycle shelters will be provided as well as a location for a bicycle repair shop. Residents will be encouraged to shop locally. Residents’ and visitors’ cars can be parked in the underground car park. A management system will allow anyone to use the car park even if they are not a resident of La Vigne Rouge. The entrance and exit of the car park will be on Avenue Heydenberg.
La Vigne Rouge is a project that respects the scale of the neighbourhood. The Chaussée de Roodebeek and the Rue d’Octobre are characterised by a vertical articulation suitable for single-family homes. La Vigne Rouge takes this into account. A larger scale will be considered on the Avenue Heydenberg, which will probably result in a higher building height.
La Vigne Rouge wishes to preserve the existing hangar. It offers a solution for setting up common areas for residents: games room, a shared kitchen, workshop, shared offices, etc. Upstairs, lofts that respect the industrial character of the site are envisaged.
