CERA Headquarters
Leuven, Belgium
In Leuven, Belgium, architects from Robbrecht en Daem architecten and Archipelago architects designed a building to house the head office of Cera, a financial cooperative, as well as its collection of contemporary art.
The main material used for surfaces is Rocherons stone. This natural limestone, marketed by Polycor, has been carefully treated, the softened finish and its fine grain sublimate its potential: whether it is the textures, and the combinations of fittings on the facade, large smooth areas. sliding light. The Rocherons stone here lends itself admirably to the integration of a large-scale building in a demanding and delicate urban context.
During the 2019 RES Awards ceremony, CERA headquarters won first prize in the 'Best Institutional Investor Project' category.
“The different characters of the existing and newly erected buildings on the site can be clearly distinguished. The project preserves and reinforces a certain trinity with the neo-gothic Hellepute building, the 18th century Hôtel d’Eynatten and the new building on the corner - each with its own specific character and atmosphere, and their own interior space or patio. The two historic buildings on the site received a full redesignation, which was possible with a well-considered restoration. The new design shows a building with its own contemporary identity, that avoids confrontation with its historic neighbours."
Gallery
Photo credits
@HOGE Architects
