‘Urban Court’ residential complex in Brussels

Combination of different facade systems

On the site of a former office building in Brussels, an ensemble of three buildings has been built that cluster around a spacious, communal courtyard. ‘Urban Court’ opens up a formerly closed block and demonstrates how sustainable urban densification can create quality of life.

In selecting the materials, the architects focused primarily on architectural coherence, a restrained material palette and a minimal consumption of raw materials. The concrete bases emphasise connection of the buildings to the ground, while the glazed ceramic cladding of the facade afford lightness.

Two different insulation systems were combined, enabling the same ceramics to be used throughout to create a durable, uniform surface.

Where the facade required continuous insulation, the architects opted for StoTherm Vario. In heavily glazed areas that required ventilation and which offered the possibility of employing more complex geometries, the architects chose StoVentec C. This also enabled rainwater drainage to be incorporated into a rear-ventilated metal structure and concealed within the thickness of the system, rendering it invisible from the outside.