The community of Anderlecht has traditionally been closely linked to the industry on the banks of the Brussels-Charleroi canal. Today, the banks of that canal are largely accessible to cyclists and walkers, but at Biestebroekkaai, a strip of industry – including a building materials supplier and a beer brewery – still separates the brick terraced houses from the water. Right at the beginning of this strip, the Vers.a architectural firm, commissioned by the municipality of Anderlecht, has created an attractive front building that skilfully adapts to the challenging conditions on the border between a residential area and an industrial zone.

The carefully sculpted shape of the building is the project’s greatest asset, but in addition to the space, there is also the light, which floods into the homes through large windows, together with magnificent views of the raw urban canal zone. The building, which stands on a previously vacant plot on the corner of Biestebroekstraat and Biestebroekkaai, provides a balanced solution for an open space in the city. The design, which at first glance appears deceptively simple, does justice to a striking urban moment without detracting too much from the immediate surroundings.