{"id":4021,"date":"2026-07-24T08:32:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T06:32:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/?post_type=ace-news&p=4021"},"modified":"2026-07-24T10:10:05","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T08:10:05","slug":"usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district","status":"publish","type":"ace-news","link":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/nl\/news\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\/","title":{"rendered":"USquare Brussels: From Military Enclave to Urban Campus, transforming a former military site into a new urban district"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Yesterday, ACE President Daniel F\u00fcgenschuh,<\/strong> Vice President Elizabeth Gossart<\/strong>, Secretary General Katharina Erdmenger<\/strong> and Senior Policy Officer Pierre Obajtek<\/strong> visited U-Square Brussels, a project by EVR Architecten<\/strong>, BC Architects & Studies<\/strong>, and Callebaut Architecten<\/strong> that exemplifies how architecture can transform existing places into resilient, inclusive, and future-oriented environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usquare Feder is an adaptive reuse and urban regeneration project in Brussels that transforms a former military barracks into an open, mixed-use academic neighbourhood. Initiated by Universit\u00e9 libre de Bruxelles and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, the project redefines the previously enclosed site as an inclusive urban campus where students, researchers, and local residents can live, learn, and interact. Through the introduction of new public spaces, pedestrian connections, and shared facilities, the intervention reconnects the historic complex with the wider urban fabric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project combines careful restoration of the existing barracks with contemporary additions that accommodate student and researcher housing, academic programmes, and community-oriented spaces. Rather than erasing the site\u2019s identity, the design preserves and integrates the distinctive architectural features of the original buildings within a renewed urban framework that promotes openness, collaboration, and social exchange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sustainability forms a core principle of the project\u2019s approach. Circular construction strategies enable the reuse of existing materials, while biobased innovations, including hemp-lime walls and shell-based insulation, contribute to reducing the environmental footprint. Additional measures, such as shared energy systems and the reuse of existing lighting elements, further improve resource efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By merging heritage conservation, social integration, and circular design principles, Usquare Feder illustrates how former industrial and military sites can be transformed into resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban neighbourhoods that respond to contemporary social and environmental challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recognised at European level, USquare Feder was nominated and shortlisted for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture \u2013 EU Mies Awards<\/strong>, celebrating its architectural quality, commitment to sustainability, and innovative approach to the transformation of existing buildings. The project is also featured in the ACE exhibition \u201cForm Follows Transformation\u201d<\/strong>, which explores how adaptive reuse is becoming a defining architectural approach in addressing Europe\u2019s climate, social, and urban challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project\u2019s contribution to the future of architecture was further explored during the ACE policy seminar in Barcelona, where Laurens Bekemans<\/strong> reflected on the evolving role of architects in transforming Europe\u2019s existing building stock. The discussion highlighted that buildings cannot be considered isolated objects, but rather as complex systems shaped by climate, territory, politics, culture, and time. This understanding calls for an architectural practice based on stewardship, care, and a deeper connection to place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

USquare demonstrates this shift in practice: architecture as a process of transformation that works with what already exists, preserves collective memory, and creates new possibilities for future generations. It stands as a European reference for how adaptive reuse can deliver environmental responsibility while generating lasting social and cultural value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heartfelt thanks to Farah Fervel for taking the time to visit and inspire us! \ud83d\udc4f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Discover more about USquare in the ACE exhibition booklet \u201cForm Follows Transformation\u201d:<\/strong>
https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ACE_FormFollowsTransformation_Publication_Digital.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Yesterday, ACE visited U-Square Brussels, a project that exemplifies how architecture can transform existing places into resilient, inclusive, and future-oriented environments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":4026,"template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"news-categories":[],"news-tags":[],"thematic-scope":[],"class_list":["post-4021","ace-news","type-ace-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nUSquare Brussels: From Military Enclave to Urban Campus, transforming a former military site into a new urban district - Architects' Council of Europe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/nl\/news\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"nl_NL\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"USquare Brussels: From Military Enclave to Urban Campus, transforming a former military site into a new urban district\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Yesterday, ACE visited U-Square Brussels, a project that exemplifies how architecture can transform existing places into resilient, inclusive, and future-oriented environments.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/nl\/news\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Architects' Council of Europe\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ArchitectsEU\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-24T08:10:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/PHOTO-2026-07-23-19-34-25-3.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Ace_Cae\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Geschatte leestijd\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minuten\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/news\\\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/news\\\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\\\/\",\"name\":\"USquare Brussels: From Military Enclave to Urban Campus, transforming a former military site into a new urban district - Architects' Council of Europe\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/news\\\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/news\\\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/PHOTO-2026-07-23-19-34-25-3.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-24T06:32:59+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-24T08:10:05+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/news\\\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"nl-NL\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/news\\\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"nl-NL\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/news\\\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/PHOTO-2026-07-23-19-34-25-3.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/PHOTO-2026-07-23-19-34-25-3.jpg\",\"width\":1600,\"height\":1200},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/news\\\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"News\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/news-archive\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"USquare Brussels: From Military Enclave to Urban Campus, transforming a former military site into a new urban district\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/\",\"name\":\"Architects' Council of Europe\",\"description\":\"High-quality architecture and living environments for all.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/#organization\"},\"alternateName\":\"ACE-CAE\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"nl-NL\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Architects' Council of Europe\",\"alternateName\":\"ACE-CAE\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"nl-NL\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/logo.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/logo.svg\",\"width\":136,\"height\":42,\"caption\":\"Architects' Council of Europe\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/ArchitectsEU\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/Ace_Cae\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/architects-council-of-europe-ace-\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/ace.archi.eu\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@architectscouncilofeurope-8375\"],\"description\":\"The Architects\u2019 Council of Europe (ACE) is the representative organisation for the architecture at European level. Its growing membership currently consists of 52 Member Organisations, which are the regulatory and professional representative bodies in all EU Member States, Accession Countries, the UK, Switzerland and Norway, and 6 Observers Members \u2013 Serbia, Kosovo, Ukraine, Montenegro, Macedonia and Moldova. Through them, for 30 years, the ACE represents the interests of over half a million architects from 36 countries in Europe.\",\"email\":\"info@ace-cae.eu\",\"telephone\":\"+32 2 543 11 40\",\"legalName\":\"Conseil des Architectes d\u2019Europe AISBL\",\"foundingDate\":\"1900-05-11\",\"vatID\":\"BE 0464 884 970\",\"ownershipFundingInfo\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/imprint\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"USquare Brussels: From Military Enclave to Urban Campus, transforming a former military site into a new urban district - Architects' Council of Europe","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/nl\/news\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\/","og_locale":"nl_NL","og_type":"article","og_title":"USquare Brussels: From Military Enclave to Urban Campus, transforming a former military site into a new urban district","og_description":"Yesterday, ACE visited U-Square Brussels, a project that exemplifies how architecture can transform existing places into resilient, inclusive, and future-oriented environments.","og_url":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/nl\/news\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\/","og_site_name":"Architects' Council of Europe","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ArchitectsEU","article_modified_time":"2026-07-24T08:10:05+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1600,"height":1200,"url":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/PHOTO-2026-07-23-19-34-25-3.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@Ace_Cae","twitter_misc":{"Geschatte leestijd":"4 minuten"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/news\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\/","url":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/news\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\/","name":"USquare Brussels: From Military Enclave to Urban Campus, transforming a former military site into a new urban district - Architects' Council of Europe","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/news\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/news\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/PHOTO-2026-07-23-19-34-25-3.jpg","datePublished":"2026-07-24T06:32:59+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-24T08:10:05+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/news\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"nl-NL","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/news\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"nl-NL","@id":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/news\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/PHOTO-2026-07-23-19-34-25-3.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/PHOTO-2026-07-23-19-34-25-3.jpg","width":1600,"height":1200},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/news\/usquare-brussels-from-military-enclave-to-urban-campus-transforming-a-former-military-site-into-a-new-urban-district\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/news-archive\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"USquare Brussels: From Military Enclave to Urban Campus, transforming a former military site into a new urban district"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/#website","url":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/","name":"Architects' Council of Europe","description":"High-quality architecture and living environments for all.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/#organization"},"alternateName":"ACE-CAE","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"nl-NL"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/#organization","name":"Architects' Council of Europe","alternateName":"ACE-CAE","url":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"nl-NL","@id":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/logo.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/logo.svg","width":136,"height":42,"caption":"Architects' Council of Europe"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ArchitectsEU","https:\/\/x.com\/Ace_Cae","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/architects-council-of-europe-ace-","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/ace.archi.eu\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@architectscouncilofeurope-8375"],"description":"The Architects\u2019 Council of Europe (ACE) is the representative organisation for the architecture at European level. Its growing membership currently consists of 52 Member Organisations, which are the regulatory and professional representative bodies in all EU Member States, Accession Countries, the UK, Switzerland and Norway, and 6 Observers Members \u2013 Serbia, Kosovo, Ukraine, Montenegro, Macedonia and Moldova. Through them, for 30 years, the ACE represents the interests of over half a million architects from 36 countries in Europe.","email":"info@ace-cae.eu","telephone":"+32 2 543 11 40","legalName":"Conseil des Architectes d\u2019Europe AISBL","foundingDate":"1900-05-11","vatID":"BE 0464 884 970","ownershipFundingInfo":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/imprint\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ace-news\/4021","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ace-news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/ace-news"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4026"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4021"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-categories?post=4021"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=4021"},{"taxonomy":"thematic-scope","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/thematic-scope?post=4021"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}