Belfius Insurance, the owner of the well-known Brussels premises, has just submitted a request for a permit to transform the lower floors of Passage 44. The purpose of the application, submitted to the Region, is to change the purpose or use of all or part of the current property by transforming, renovating and raising the lower floors of the building comprising the commercial spaces, the auditorium, Passage 44 and the offices (33,000 m²) on levels -2, -1, 0 and +1 into a university building. The beneficiary is the KU Leuven, which after the works should have some 16,000 m² of course, study and research space on 6 floors above ground added to the existing base. At the same time, Belfius Insurance submitted a request to the City of Brussels to terminate the public right of way that gave rise to the name of the premises concerned. This has been temporarily removed by the College.
Architects: a2o
Breaking Down Silos: Why Building and Real Estate Must Work Together – Caroline Deiteren
The construction and real estate sectors are facing tough times, with no immediate improvement in sight. Activity is slowing down, despite the pressing societal challenges that require building, renovating, demolishing, and rebuilding. While there is rightful concern about the manufacturing industry, the importance and potential of the construction sector are being heavily underestimated. Embracing construction innovation can drive additional growth, benefiting everyone involved. The government, construction, and real estate sectors must tackle this together.
From Roofs to Neighborhoods: Kristof Eggermont of Ortelius on the Future of Sustainable Building
“The built environment in our country accounts for 20% of emissions. Through innovative solutions such as heat pumps and solar panels, we can not only drastically reduce CO₂ emissions but also create value for the real estate sector and society,” says Kristof Eggermont.
Revive founder Nicolas Bearelle on sustainable construction
“Sustainability truly doesn’t have to be more expensive than the classical patterns. Innovation and technology can help the real estate sector – and therefore consumers – reduce costs”, says Nicolas Bearelle, founder of project developer Revive. In the lead-up to Futurebuild Belgium, the trade show that spotlights sustainability and innovation, Realty Talks spoke with one of the undisputed pioneers of sustainability in the sector.
“More than ever, it is about the right investments in land” – Jo De Wolf
2024 was not an easy year for the world of logistics real estate either, especially as a listed company. Jo De Wolf, CEO of Montea, is cautiously optimistic, as well as realistic, about 2025. A lower interest rate can and will give the entire real estate sector some much-needed breathing room. He feels downright optimistic about the longer term. It is simply impossible to put off investments indefinitely, especially in infrastructure, residential construction and logistics.
Towards a Sustainable Future
Reconversion and renovation are terms that have become commonplace in the world of real estate in recent years. “If we all want to achieve the 2050 climate goals, something has to be done about our ageing real estate assets,” many real estate experts have been saying for some time now. From a historical point of view, renovation already adds value. “But even for industrial buildings that are not protected, a conscious choice is often made for redevelopment,” states Erwin Vrijens, Head of Real Estate at PMV, which has a wealth of experience in counselling and financing in the domain of sustainable area development and supporting real estate projects with historical or social importance.
Navigating Unprecedented Times
That we are living in extraordinary times is something the professional real estate market is aware of like no other. Whether developers, building owners, investors, consultants or users, they are all facing particularly challenging times. Colliers, a global leader in property services and investment management, realizes this too. In this article, David Vermeesch, Managing Partner at Colliers Belgium, takes us through the opportunities and challenges that the sector is currently facing and how at Colliers they are dealing with them.
