ONLINE BRUSSELS HERITAGE - ONE-DAY SEMINAR - 11/12/2014

EDITORIAL

Brussels Heritage online is the first digital edition of the periodical of the same name. Devoted to the proceedings of the symposium on “The energy future of existing buildings in brussels: between preservation and performance”, it contains the contributions presented during the one-day seminar organised by Brussels Urban Development, which was held in the Royal Library of Belgium on 11th December 2014.

The purpose of this seminar was to lay the groundwork for a collective examination by all administrations and actors in the heritage and energy sector to find solutions, over the long term, to achieve a better balance between the necessary preservation of Brussels’ buildings and the no less necessary search for energy efficiency in these buildings. In order to identify the issues and determine the key elements for future projects, we invited specialists from Brussels and abroad and from a variety of backgrounds (including energy engineers, architects, art historians and engineers] to share their experiences and thoughts and compare their perspectives.

The seminar opened with a general outline of the issues, examined in turn by Michael Govaert and Manja Vanhaelen via the regulatory texts and a questioning of the practitioners concerning their implementation and objectives. Case studies also featured prominently in the programme for the seminar. The issue of improving energy performance was first tackled at regional level as the reduction in consumption that we are aiming for must be considered in relation to the urban form, as emphasised by Julien Bigorgne, and not only based on a particular building in isolation. This broad context is reflected in the management plan for Logis-Floréal, presented by Guido Stegen and Jonathan Fronhoffs. This regulatory text, which takes an innovative approach to the management of Brussels’ heritage, sets out the general conservation guidelines for the biggest collection of listed buildings in the Region while also clearly defining the works that are permitted. In this way, the Region has developed a clear framework in which conservation objectives can be identified by working on the buildings on a case-by-case basis, while giving due consideration to concerns relating to energy, economics, maintenance and comfort.

Specialised topics concerning the assessments to be carried out prior to any work on a building were also addressed via presentations by Julien Borderon and Roald Hayen; the former examining the uncertainties associated with thermal simulations applied to old buildings and the latter reporting on the risks of problems inherent to the use of interior insulation, using the listed former veterinary school in Anderlecht as an example.

As the notion of heritage has broadened over the years, we chose to present examples of renovation involving two social housing tower blocks. This provided an opportunity to explore the future of these buildings (the heritage value of which is often disputed) which are at risk of demolition even though they contain a number of tangible advantages from a renovation point of view. Using these two examples, the underlying issues of embodied energy, sustainability of fittings and the cultural value of these structures were explored.

Finally, presentations were delivered addressing actions on the ground and projects concerning better management of energy in these buildings, as well as raising awareness among residents and training of trades. This was an opportunity to learn about the positive impact of the Local Action Plan for Energy Management (PLAGE) coordinated by Brussels Environment, the Belgian Building Research Institute's joint energy engineer/restorative architect training project and, finally, to highlight the new challenges facing craftspeople working on the renovation of Brussels’ houses to improve energy efficiency and also preserve their architectural and structural characteristics.

Through all these themes and the different interpretative frameworks applied to the issues raised, a number of important points of agreement emerged: the certainty that there is no magic solution; that uncertainties are unavoidable; that the complexity of the objects on which we work is real and must be better taken into account; that it is essential for experimentation and evaluations to be carried out; and, over and above all, that the resident must be the prime focus of any approach. This analysis can only encourage us to work together to respond to the challenges of the city of tomorrow.

Thierry Wauters

Director. Direction des Monuments et Sites.

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