The architect office Jaspers-Eyers has presented a project for the construction of a new building to house the Prosecutor’s office and First Instance courts to the Concertation committee. The building would be situated on an island in the rue de la Régence in Brussels. In reaction, the Department of Research and Urban Projects (Atelier de Recherche et d’Action urbaines, Arau) reiterated its request for the Building Authority to make the blueprint for the restoration of the Courthouse public. The blueprint for the courthouse was presented to the federal government minister’s council in February 2013. The Building Authority is veering towards a mixed function project, on the basis of a contested appeal for private consultation submitted in December 2014. The consultant Lydian-Grontmij was named on the 4th of April 2014, whereas the justice department wants a renovation and complete and exclusive affectation of the Courthouse.
The Arau wants an incident study for the “second courthouse” project, which was submitted to the investigative court in December 2013 and to a public inquiry in mid-February. It underlines the fact that the proposition being studied by the government is a 20 year rental, twice renewable, with a rent of 1.7 million a year for the first contract and 5.7 million for the following years. The association reminded people the Royal Commission for Monuments and Sites is opposed to changing the façade of the Rue Ernest Allard, as it is listed as heritage. The island is in cultural, historical, esthetical, and embellishment preservation zone. The buildings in Rue Allard are not protected, but the “La Belgique” building is on the architectural heritage register.
(Source: Belga)
