Two-storey industrial extension in Braine-l'Alleud

This two-storey industrial extension in Braine-l'Alleud, in Walloon Brabant, was designed by architecture firm STARC around a clear architectural stance that fully embraces the duality between the existing building and the new intervention. Rather than concealing the memory of the original industrial structure, the project grafts onto it a new volume whose contemporary character is asserted with confidence.

The volumetric composition reads as a deliberate hierarchy on the facade: a plain white rendered base, grounded and restrained, supports an overhanging volume clad in dark-toned timber boarding. This controlled volumetric shift generates a productive tension between the two entities, further articulated by black window frames and metal profiles that provide a rhythmic counterpoint across the elevation. The existing standing-seam zinc roof connects discreetly to the new ensemble, ensuring envelope continuity while preserving the legibility of each architectural layer.

The fenestration plays a structuring role in the composition: generous glazed bays at ground level establish a strong visual permeability between the interior activity and the forecourt, while the upper-level openings are more considered, framing natural light with precision and maintaining the coherence of the timber volume. Set back from the street, the building benefits from a sufficient clearance that qualifies the approach and affirms its presence within a peri-urban context typical of Walloon Brabant.

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