Kolonienstraat

Project description

Location

This property is situated in the heart of Brussels, to the south of the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula – one of the Belgian capital’s most prominent landmarks. The Brussels-Capital Region is one of Europe’s leading office markets, comprising 19 municipalities with a total of 1.25 million residents. Besides being the Belgian capital, Brussels is also home to the headquarters of major international institutions, such as the European Union and NATO. This puts the city on the map as a global hub for politics, diplomacy and international business relations.

Excellent transport connections further underscore the location’s strategic importance. Bruxelles-Central train station is just four minutes’ walk from the property and offers direct connections to domestic and international destinations. In addition, Brussels Airport is roughly 30 minutes away by public transport. As for private transport, the R20 and E40 motorways are both 5 to 10 minutes away, ensuring optimal connections to the Belgian and European road networks.

The microlocation is characterized by dense perimeter development with heterogeneous styles from different epochs, which afford the neighborhood its distinctive urban character. The majority of properties are primarily used for commercial purposes, with upper floors housing offices and administrative spaces. The central square in Brussels, La Grand-Place – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a tourist hotspot – is just 500 meters west of the property, making the location particularly attractive to tenants seeking a prestigious address.

The immediate vicinity offers excellent infrastructure, with restaurants, local amenities and varied retail offerings available within a radius of 50 to 150 meters. This vibrant fusion of historic flair, the international business world and urban quality of life position the property as one of the most sought-after office premises in Brussels.

Property description

The building was originally constructed in 1874 and underwent extensive modernization in 1959. It is owned by KOLONIEN INVEST NV and has been used as an office building and commercial premises ever since. The property footprint is roughly 1,650 m², while the gross floor area is around 10,707 m² – divided across six above-ground levels and two below-ground levels.

The building’s identity is defined by a number of exceptional architectural features. A light-filled atrium with a glass roof, for example, serves as its beating heart and creates an open, distinguished atmosphere. This is accompanied by a planted inner courtyard that, in addition to its aesthetic function, also enhances the building’s livability and microclimate. Both areas are semi-public and promote both a sense of permeability and informal interactions between users.

The building has 28 parking spaces, ten of which feature EV charging facilities, helping to meet the requirements of modern, sustainable mobility. By combining a historic structure with functional modernizations, the property is an attractive location for companies seeking to blend and meld tradition with the modern world of work.

Architecture

The building’s architecture combines historic elements from its original construction in 1874 with functional adaptations from the 1959 modernization. With its classic punctuated brick façade, the property blends harmoniously into the heterogeneous cityscape of central Brussels. Its style reflects the perimeter development typical of the era and contributes to the neighborhood’s urban identity.

The glass-roofed atrium and planted courtyard are architectural highlights and shape the building’s character. In addition to creating an open atmosphere filled with light, these areas also serve as spaces of communication, fostering interaction between different users. These areas are also semi-accessible to the public, underscoring the building’s openness to the city and creating an inviting atmosphere.

The modernization undertaken in 1959 heralded functional improvements, such as integrating modern technical building systems and elevators, while largely preserving the historic structure and charm of the original design. This harmony of old and new positions the building as a characterful location with contemporary functionality.

Usage concept

The building is primarily designed for office and commercial use, with the flexibility to adapt to different use scenarios by companies of many different sizes and structures. The upper floors offer spacious office areas suitable both for classic office arrangements and for modern, open-plan work environments. The flexible layout makes it possible to adapt the spaces to individual requirements – from private offices and combi offices through to open space concepts.

The property’s central location and close proximity to international institutions, including the European Union and NATO, makes it ideally suited to companies seeking a prestigious office. The combination of historic ambience, modern appointments and strategic location make the building particularly attractive to international service providers, consultancies, trade associations, NGOs and organizations with political and diplomatic activities.

The atrium and planted courtyard not only represent architectural highlights but also serve as multifunctional spaces for informal meetings and events and as distinguished reception areas. These areas create added value for tenants and help them to identify with the building.

Technical systems

The building is equipped with modern technical building systems that fully satisfy the requirements of a contemporary office location. Vertical connections include four elevators, which ensure efficient access to all floors. The mechanical ventilation system features a heating function and a corresponding static cooling function, which ensures a comfortable indoor climate. Heating is supplied by a low-temperature gas-fired boiler, supplemented by fan coils for individual temperature adjustment in each room.

A fire alarm system is installed and ensures the safety of occupants. A sprinkler system is not currently installed but could be retrofitted in the course of future modernizations. The building management system facilitates the centralized control and monitoring of technical systems and also supports operational efficiency.

The building features 28 parking spaces on the basement levels, ten of which are equipped with EV charging infrastructure. This underscores the focus on sustainable mobility and offers future-ready charging infrastructure for tenants with EVs.

The glass-roofed atrium and planted courtyard not only contribute to the building’s aesthetic quality but also support its livability and the well-being of its users. The plants improve the microclimate and create a pleasant work atmosphere.

Sustainability and modernization potential

While the building features adequate technical systems, there is scope for modernization in the future, particularly in terms of energy efficiency and air conditioning. The existing heating system, which relies on low-temperature gas-fired boilers, could be supplemented with or replaced by more efficient systems, such as heat pumps or a district heating connection. Improving the building’s insulation and installing a roof-mounted photovoltaic system would reduce both energy consumption and CO₂ emissions.

The existing EV charging infrastructure represents a first step towards sustainable mobility. Expanding charging infrastructure to all parking spaces and integrating bicycle storage and shower facilities would further improve its appeal to environmentally conscious tenants.

The planted courtyard already represents a contribution to urban biodiversity and microclimate improvement. Increasing the planting to include roof areas and green façades could amplify this positive effect.

A strategic revitalization concept could target BREEAM and DGNB certifications to transparently document the building’s sustainability credentials and further enhance its appeal to discerning tenants.

Target group and marketing positioning

The property is geared toward international companies, institutions, consultancy firms and service providers seeking a distinguished address in central Brussels. Given its close proximity to the headquarters of the European Union and NATO, the building is particularly attractive for organizations engaging in political, diplomatic and international activities.

Key target groups include:

• European and international institutions: Trade associations, think tanks, NGOs and lobbying groups
• Consultancy firms: Political consultancies, public affairs consultancies and law firms with an EU focus
• Diplomatic missions: Consulates, trade missions and business development agencies
• International companies: Business in need for a distinguished Brussels address for EU-related affairs
• Technology and service companies: Companies focused on regulatory affairs and EU markets

The central location – just 500 meters from La Grand-Place and four minutes’ walk from Bruxelles-Central train station – and historic architecture with modern conveniences make the building an ideal choice for companies that value prestige, accessibility and an inspirational work environment.

The combination of historic charm (from its original construction in 1874), functional modernizations (implemented in 1959), architectural highlights (such as the atrium and planted courtyard) and strategic location position the building in the premium segment of the Brussels office market.

Project status

The building is fully constructed and has been used successfully for decades. As an established location in the heart of Brussels, the property has evidenced its appeal across numerous market cycles. The stable tenancy situation and continued demand for space in the area underscore the location’s quality.

Modernizations and technical upgrades could be implemented in a future revitalization concept, focusing in particular on energy efficiency, air conditioning and digitalization. Strategic development of the asset could further enhance its competitive position and prepare the property for the demands of the coming decade. Potential measures include improving energy efficiency, retrofitting a sprinkler system, digitalizing the technical building system and providing additional facilities, such as bicycle storage and shower facilities.