Stepping down from the tram immediately outside The Louise, the sense of arrival is amplified by the esplanade out front and the building’s triple-height entrance. This communal space, 9 metres in height, is a calmly impressive portal between the exterior and interior worlds. It is a place of anticipation and of meetings, beginnings and departures. Importantly, it acts as a destination as well. Connections will be made, perhaps facilitated by the roaming concierge.

With the sensitively reworked esplanade around its base, The Louise incorporates its immediate surroundings at street level with integral effect. The relationship between the architecture and the urban realm has been carefully balanced and is unique on the Avenue. For the occupants, the building entrances are the obvious transition points between Brussels life and the calm within.

The entrance they encounter has been designed to link the two universes, with a welcome, restful ambience. Well lit, with deliberately long eyeline horizons, it enables people to see their next steps clearly, whether arriving or leaving. Used for a rendezvous or simply access , it is a space from which to make great progress.

The internal galleried walkway of the first floor incorporates separate and discrete zones into the communal whole of the entrance hall. Suitable for meetings or shared workspaces, they afford vantage points for a stimulating view of the world going about its business on the floor below.

Without forcing proximity upon people, an awareness of collective endeavour and the sense of belonging to a hive of activity can lend great motivation to the moment.

The lobby design serves both sociability and solitude equally well. Everyone arriving is met by its airy calm and vaulted space. Those seeking quieter surroundings can head for ‘the library’. There will, of course, be those who are looking forward to events in the auditorium, events brought to life with state-of-the-art facilities and staging.

Collaborative spaces are readily available. Whether walking through, workshopping or simply wondering at the spectacle, the ground floor is a stage from which visitors will progress to the further delights of The Louise.

The ‘library’ is a quiet space for reflection,
reading or catching up on emails.

The 150-seat auditorium on the ground floor is extraordinarily versatile. Theatre-style presentation can be changed for high-involvement performance in the round. The facilities would suit a TED talk or a full team day, with sound and projection facilities the envy of many.

The auditorium’s versatility extends from large audience theatre to smaller, more compact set-ups for social events. The space is modular, with multi-point audio-visual flexibility, in state of the art, soundproofed surroundings, and can be rapidly re-purposed according to audience size and need. A dynamic lighting rig can provide as much of an intimate ambience as it can illuminate a full capacity event.

For after hours social events, E-Sports evenings or quiz nights, the auditorium can be flexed to accommodate the necessary staging, desk configuration and lighting accordingly, in rapid turnaround times.

As a multiple-use, flexible projection and theatre space, it is equipped to provide for every possible eventuality.

Throughout the complex, the air quality is excellent. Advanced filtering systems and CO₂ monitors regulate an atmosphere that is unfailingly bright and oxygenating. The ionising effects are boosted psychologically by the exterior gardens and living walls of greenery, entrancing to those viewing from within as much as those who choose to go out. The Louise offers the very definition of a  clean air act.

With 1,500 square metres of garden space in a location at the epicentre of a world city, clearly The Louise presents an exceptional estate. The Louise gardens and the Hotel Wielemans courtyard garden can all be reached directly from the main building, without having to descend to street level. The sense of privacy and privilege afforded to the occupiers is enhanced accordingly – even more so on the private terraces of the fifth and seventh floors. This is a somewhat hidden haven of greenery and plants that adds oxygen, biodiversity and wonderful visual stimulation to The Louise experience.

At 24 storeys high in a relatively low-build city, The Louise is a standout landmark, proudly visible on the Brussels skyline. From within, the 360° views from the ascending floors reach far to distant horizons. There are also uninterrupted perspectives in a column-free interior that will ensure efficiency and flexibility. Lines are clean and geometric, allowing light, shadows and, especially, people to populate the space without clutter or distraction.

Carbon-neutral transport is a central ambition at The Louise. The provision for E_Mobility is comprehensive. Along with the spaces for 190 cycles, there are charging points and garaging for e-scooters, bikes and four-wheel vehicles. These are evenly distributed on the garaging floors (with space for 121 cars). The Louise app will share news, information and enthusiasm for clean energy amongst all users.

Cycling represents a carbon-neutral commute as well as contributing to positive health and wellbeing. Extensive shower, changing and locker facilities are provided for all commuters. Dedicated support will celebrate the cycling and E-Mobility community.

Cyclists can depend upon full maintenance and repair services, on hand when required.

A cleaner planet and cleaner living all feed into the reality of The Louise. It is a place where people bring their lives to work – and do not leave them at the door. The ‘sport-club’ changing facilities on the lower ground floor are extensive and beautifully designed. They are fully equipped to accommodate an increasing number of cyclists and lunchtime runners who will all appreciate such home comforts close at hand.

Adjacent to the development and part of the estate, Hotel Wielemans is an Art Deco townhouse fronting Rue Defacqz. Classified as a listed building since 1994, it was designed and built by architect Adrien Blomme in the 1920s as a commission from Léon Wielemans, a famous Belgian brewer. It has now been sensitively transformed into a sophisticated business club, specifically tailored for the audience that will occupy The Louise.