Brussels Office Buildings Converted

Over the past decade, a growing number of architectural and urban studies have explored the adaptive reuse of buildings as a key strategy for sustainable urban transformation. Yet few studies have focused specifically on the conversion of office buildings: one of the most emblematic forms of obsolescence in post-industrial cities. This publication fills this gap by combining theoretical reflection, regulatory insight, and field-based case studies to illustrate how Brussels with its unique administrative background, has become a laboratory of transformation. This city has indeed been on the forefront of such reuse, having converted nearly 2.000.000 m2 of obsolete offices since the late 1990s. The book not only documents the technical, economic, and heritage dimensions of this process but also examines its social and spatial implications, offering a model for cities worldwide seeking to reconcile architectural reuse with urban resilience.