USquare Feder

Located in Ixelles, Brussels, Usquare Feder is the inaugural phase in converting the former gendarmerie barracks into a mixed-use university (ULB/VUB) district. It establishes an international research center within six renovated buildings, opening the historically closed site to the city. The project's materiality is defined by a radical circularity, where salvaged bricks, stone, and glazing are thoughtfully integrated with new bio-based elements like hempcrete and locally sourced clay plasters, respecting the site's rich heritage.

The project tackles the complex transition from a closed, mono-functional site to a porous and adaptive urban campus. Rather than erasing the past, the design capitalises on the latent spatial and material intelligence of the existing fabric. By connecting three early 20th-century buildings into one cohesive structure, the project enhances continuity and spatial generosity. Circularity is treated as an architectural driver: the dismantling of neighbouring buildings became an act of urban mining, generating a catalogue of reusable components. Programmes were tailored to existing volumes to minimise intervention, like structural interventions, while reversible infill systems allow future transformation. The project thus operates as a laboratory for sustainable renovation, coupling heritage preservation with contemporary environmental ethics.

Usquare’s construction strategy redefines material practice through reuse and local sourcing. Approximately 130 m³ of recovered bricks, 120 glazing panels, and fragments of marble were reintegrated, each tested for structural performance and durability. The pre-existing masonry was complemented by modular timber structures and demountable plywood partitions fixed with custom clips for disassembly. Bio-based materials, including hempcrete walls and clay plasters made from Brussels soils, ensure acoustic and hygrothermal comfort. Reused marble fragments were embedded in terrazzo floors, transforming remnants into ornament. This careful stratification of old and new drastically reduced CO₂ emissions while preserving embodied energy. Maintenance is facilitated by reversible and visible systems, allowing components to evolve with future uses.