Page 23 - Trends-by-DELABIE_n02
P. 23

Brussels — Belgium / DESIGN TROTTER ///















                                                                    Green


                                                                             GREEN




                                                                             GLASS




                                                                              NATO HEADQUARTERS
                                                                              BRUSSELS (BELGIUM)
                                                                              SKIDMORE,
                                                                              OWINGS AND MERRILL + ASSAR
                                                                              ARCHITECTS




                                                                                                                       23
                                                                A GLASS HAND IN A FLEXIBLE GLOVE
                                                                NATO’s new glass HQ asserts its green credentials
                                                                with the help of Assar Architects, a professional
                                                                architects’ association based in Brussels and in
                                                                conjunction with architects Skidmore, Owings and
                                                                Merrill (SOM), from Chicago. The entwined fingers of
                                                                the building symbolise unity and flexibility, making a
                                                                bold statement of their ecological and technological
                                                                approach.


                                                                After 7 years of construction work, NATO’s new head-
                                                                quarters in Brussels is making its contribution to
                                                                sustainability. Its flexible 254,000m  surface, of which
                                                                                            2
                                                                72,000m  is glazed, simply oozes technical prowess.
                                                                       2
                                                                Security, energy and style were the design criteria for
                                                                this building.  And no-one can say they haven’t delivered
                                                                on those promises: reinforced glass windows with a
                                                                specific solar-driven component for optimal insulation.
                                                                Maximum luminosity and minimal energy consumption.
                                                                The building’s gentle curves facilitate the collection of
                                                                rainwater which is then reused to meet 90% of its water
                                                                requirements both inside and out. What more can we say?




                                                                                                DELABIE products installed:
                                                                                 Stainless Steel movable drop-down rail (Ref. 5163P1)
                                                                                      Liquid soap dispensers (Ref. 6580 + 729012)
                                                                                                 plus a range of accessories
   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28