archipelago winner of the competition for the new CHIREC in Braine l’Alleud–Waterloo

We are delighted to announce that archipelago has won the competition for the transformation and extension of the CHIREC hospital site in Braine l’Alleud–Waterloo. A project that dares to break with the past in order to anchor the hospital more firmly in its territory and open it up to the future.

By reinvesting in a former industrial site to house the new medical and technical hub, the campus is being deeply regenerated: reopening of the Hain watercourse, creation of therapeutic gardens, landscaped terraces and green spaces that foster both biodiversity and user well-being.

Guided by a performance-based design approach, the project aims for a sober, precise and sustainable hospital architecture: building only what is necessary, in the service of care. The adaptive façade, a truly responsive interface between inside and outside, regulates light, temperature and airflow to provide optimal comfort and reduce energy demands, while the rooms are designed to maximise views, reduce glare and ensure a high-quality experience for everyone.

Modularity, prefabrication and circularity finally ensure the building’s reversibility, establishing the campus as a model of responsible hospital architecture. A holistic vision of “taking care” of people, the environment and the territory lies at the heart of our approach.