PROJECT HISTORY
The challenge
Uniting renovation, restoration and new construction at a historic building site, while respecting its beautiful, listed elements.
Redevelopment Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria Brussels
Renovating a historic building while preserving its character
The solution
Arcadis and its partners paid careful attention to contemporary design, meeting today’s standards within the site’s constraints.
The Impact
The prestigious, renovated building, with its preserved historic elements, is ready for a promising future as a luxurious hotel.
The Challenge
The prestigious Astoria Hotel in Brussels sat empty for over 10 years before the listed 1909 building was acquired by the Corinthia Hotel Group based in Malta. The new owner aspired to recreate its original function as a luxury hotel, complemented by housing and parking functions.
An ambitious program made the project highly complex, as the work on the site included new construction as well as renovation and restoration. One of this project’s major challenges in this project was the integration of special techniques into a listed building with its decorations, cornices, glass roofs, ... while preserving its character.
The Solution
The redevelopment program consisted of:
- Block A: A thorough renovation of the Astoria Hotel, including restoration of listed spaces.
- Block B: A major renovation of the three “master houses” that will become an integral part of the hotel but also house some of the services and grant access to the underground parking.
- Block C: Construction of a new extension to the hotel and an underground parking lot, located at the Koningsstraat, where a building was demolished by the previous owner.
For the entire redevelopment program, Arcadis paid careful attention to sustainable design within the constraints of a listed site, while respecting all applicable standards.
In terms of energy and CO2, we designed the new building in full compliance with the current EPB requirements. Contemporary energy-efficient techniques were also seamlessly integrated into the existing classified spaces. For example, the residual heat from the kitchens and data room was reused to provide the 126 rooms with hot water. We also paid special attention to acoustic comfort, which significantly reduced street noise while ventilation and heating operated with low noise. This resulted in improved health and well-being of both staff and guests.
Overall, this project is an excellent example of circularity. The existing buildings were repurposed instead of being completely demolished, significantly reducing material consumption on the site.
The Impact
Not only can this historic building be used again, it is also equipped with all contemporary fixtures, making it ready for a promising future. Thanks to our collaboration with the heritage services of the city of Brussels and the region, this was accomplished while preserving the listed interior.
The redevelopment program also has a positive social impact: the unoccupied building became a vibrant, charismatic building again. At the Koningsstraat side of the hotel, new stores will be added - among others, a chocolatier, a flower store and the new restaurant will contribute to an upgraded neighborhood.
This project showcases seamless integration of new construction, renovation and restoration, sustainably enhancing a building and its environment to provide guests and employees with a delightful experience.
