Usquare

In the Usquare.brussels project, a collaboration between VUB, ULB and the Society for Urban Development, five buildings of the former barracks in Ixelles were renovated.
The three oldest buildings (1909) were kept as much as possible in their original state, while two buildings from 1970 kept their facades but received a completely new interior. The site now houses seminar rooms, offices, family housing and accommodation for foreign researchers.
Where the barracks used to be closed, an open and publicly accessible space was created, including new entrances and a connection to Etterbeek station.

Sustainability and circularity
Usquare is a model project for circular construction. Materials such as wooden floors, wall tiles and bricks were reused. New structures received bio-based materials such as CaNaCrete walls, clay stucco and shell insulation, finished with natural paints.

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