Project
The EUROPA Building, located at Rue de la Loi 175 in Brussels, is the seat of the European Council and the Council of the European Union. The project was carried out between 2005 and 2016 within the former Résidence Palace, a building originally constructed between 1922 and 1927 and partially listed as protected heritage.
The project was led and designed by Philippe Samyn and Partners, in collaboration with Studio Valle Progettazioni and Buro Happold. It followed an international architectural competition launched in 2004.
The building provides 53,815 m² of above-ground space, including conference rooms, offices, press facilities, and ceremonial and restaurant areas, as well as 17,184 m² of infrastructure with parking. The existing structure was renovated and extended on the north-east side to form an enclosed atrium, which houses the main entrance and a new conference volume with elliptical floor plans.
The project includes a new double façade made from reused wooden window frames originating from various European countries, forming the outer skin of the atrium. Photovoltaic panels are installed on the roofs of both the historic and new parts of the building.
Project data
Study: 2008
Execution: 2013
Architect: Samyn & Partners
Client: ISSOL sa
Site: Brussels, Belgium
© Samyn&Partners
