The restoration of the Abbey of Forest goes far beyond the renovation of a protected heritage: the creation of the cultural centre ABŸ aims to bring together in this renewed location various institutions active in culture, art education and youth work.
Located in the heart of the municipality of Forest, the abbey and its gardens, together with the town hall, the church and Sint-Denijsplein, form the historical centre of the municipality. Over the years, the building has fallen into disrepair, leading to a reconsideration of its use and layout.
This valuable heritage will now be put at the service of the citizens and cultural and educational actors of Forest. These actors include the Academy of Music, Word and Dance, the French-language library, the BRASS cultural centre, the Forest Youth Centre and the municipal youth service. They will all contribute to the democratisation of culture and make it accessible to all.
The historic semicircle buildings, as well as the castle and convent, will be restored and completely renovated. A new building will house the French-language library and game library. The existing buildings will be insulated to meet current standards, while the new structures will meet passive standards.
In the long term, the cultural centre ABŸ foresees the creation of a new theatre and youth centre, as well as the revitalisation of the gardens with the planting of 400 new trees. Upon completion of the works, the cultural institutions and residents of Forest will be able to enjoy an infrastructure of almost 9,000 m², harmoniously distributed around the former court of honour.
Cultural centre ABŸ aims to promote encounters between residents, encourage social diversity and contribute to the well-being of citizens. The Abbey of Forest will become a space for individual and collective development, where the infrastructure and gardens support a better togetherness.
The reconversion works, which follow preparatory steps such as soil remediation, demolition and planting, will be carried out by contractor Artes and will last three years. The works will be carried out in three phases, corresponding to the different zones to be redeveloped. The first phase will begin with the demolition of the former restaurant, construction of the French-language library and renovation of the exterior of the south wing.
The scale of this project and the variety of interventions require strict monitoring of the various files, from demolition to reconstruction, both in the design and execution phases. The design team, led by Bureau Bouwtechniek as executive architect, aims to translate the existing and protected heritage into current standards while meeting contemporary usage requirements and preserving the authentic character of the site. The aim is to connect the new structures, such as the library, harmoniously with the existing buildings and integrate restoration and renovation with care.
The total cost of the works is estimated at €21,682,261 including VAT. The project is financially supported by the Brussels Capital Region (through the Sustainable Neighbourhood Contract ‘Abbey’ and the Cultural Heritage Department), the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, as well as by the European Union under the ERDF programme.
Team Architecture (French-speaking) (9)
