© XDGA - Xaveer De Geyter Architects

Silos

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City, Country Leuven, Belgium
Year since 2011
Client Ertzberg
Architect XDGA
Services Structural Engineering
Facts NFA: 45,400 m² | Competition: 2011, 1st prize

The old iconic factory building dates from the 1960s when AB InBev expanded its brewery with large industrial buildings such as the Mouterij, the Eesten and the silos. The 54 silos themselves are 50m high with a diameter of 6m, built in reinforced concrete.

The redevelopment of the old factory building is undoubtedly one of the most imaginative reconversion projects ever in Belgium. The apartments in the silos themselves are partly circular and range from a mix of smaller studios of 30 square meters - specifically intended for the medium term - to 2 and 3-bedroom apartments for families.

In addition, one of the most striking things about the ambitious project is the brand new city balcony: a square at a height of 50 meters where visitors get a 360-degree panoramic view of the surroundings.

A new volume of apartments will be added on top of the city balcony. This is a steel structure to enable the cantilever of 20m.

An in-depth study of the existing silos and the extensive test package to map out the existing foundations makes it possible to maximise the reuse of existing structures with targeted reinforcements.

Structural Engineering