BRUSSELS (Brussels Morning) – The Multitoren, the Muntcentrum and the Stock Exchange building along the Anspachlaan. These are only three buildings in a long series that will have a publicly accessible roof terrace in the near future. “Places like this were missing in Brussels,” says State Secretary for Urban Planning Pascal Smet (One.brussels/Vooruit).
What about the development of rooftops in Brussels, roofs that are made accessible to the public or the users of a building? That is what Brussels MP Geoffroy Coomans (MR) asked Monday in the Parliament’s Territorial Development Committee.
From the answer of competent State Secretary Pascal Smet (One.brussels-Vooruit) it appears that many of these places will be added in the near future.
On the Anspachlaan, along the central pedestrian zone, there is a lot of movement. For example, on the base of the Multi Tower (the former Philips Tower) there will be a publicly accessible terrace along the Anspachlaan side. At the rear of the modernist building, the terrace will again be reserved for the users of the offices.
Multi Tower and Muntcentrum
Opposite the Multi Tower, the Muntcentrum (the Cityzen project), that other modernist colossus, will have a roof terrace on the top floor, which will be accessible to the public, according to Smet’s answer. The plinth on the side of Muntplein will also have such an accessible roof terrace.
Smet also recalls that the Beursgebouw will also have a roof terrace with a ‘skybar’, which everyone can go to.
Across the street, there will also be terraces on the roof of The Dome, the place where Actiris’ headquarters was until recently. Only the users of the building will be able to use it, “but we’ll see if that limitation is maintained in the future,” Smet noted.
And it doesn’t stop along or near the same Anspachlaan. The flat roofs of the Ancienne Belgique will also have a roof terrace that will be accessible to everyone. The building application has already been submitted.
Elsewhere in the city there are also many projects in the pipeline with large roof terraces or gardens. This is the case, for example, in the mixed ZIN building in Noordwijk, where the Flemish administration, among others, will move in. There will be a roof terrace with plants on the top floor of the middle wing. Both users and the wider public will be able to access it. The works are currently underway.
And then there is Avenue Louise, where roof terraces will be added to both the Blue Tower and the Generali Tower. It is unclear whether these are reserved for the users of the two office towers.
Victoria Tower
The Victoria Tower in the Noordwijk will also have such a terrace, with a bar-restaurant for the hotel and other tower users, but also for the general public. Here too, there is already a building permit.
Another one: in the new Palace Hotel, the extension of the DoubleTree hotel (the former Crowne Plaza on Rogier), there is already a permit for a cocktail bar, a terrace and a garden on the eighth floor, with a view of the Botanical Garden, the city centre and the Rogierplein.
Smet emphasises that he is a strong supporter of more roof terraces in the city. “Since I got this authority, I find that it is lacking in Brussels. I encourage the trend towards more roof terraces. These roofs often create incredible views of the city and additional publicly accessible space. If access for the general public is not possible, we ask that at least it be done for the users of the building, so that there is still a positive effect on the social fabric of a building.”
Image via Bruzz
