Projects

Hippodrome of Watermael-Boitsfort

Public, Structure

Building/site

Type

Public building and protected monument

Location

Chaussée de la Hulpe, 1180 Uccle

Style

Modernism

Year of construction

1878 and various later extensions

Original design

Edouard Keilig, Paul Breydel

Mission

Client

SAU - Société d'Aménagement Urbain

Project team

Origin Architecture & Engineering

Contractor

Phase 1 : Monument Vandekerckhove Phase 2A : Monument Hainaut

The first mission assigned to origin in 2012 concerned the restoration of the structure of the four emblematic buildings of the hippodrome complex: the large tribune, the small tribune, the weighing building and the referees' tower. A second mission, concerning the restoration of 13 other emblematic pavilions on the site, began in 2016. It concerns the stables, the two gatehouses, the two gamblers' halls, the tunnel, the forest house, the barn and a former canopy used as a bar.

The various buildings and pavilions still visible today form a coherent and stylistically rich heritage ensemble. The racecourse, the landscape and the typical old buildings still bear witness to the former use of the site as a hippodrome.

The restoration of these buildings is important both for their architectural, stylistic, historical and social qualities and for their potential on the edge of the foret de soignes. The site of the former hippodrome is in fact managed by several Brussels actors (the SAU, Brussels environment, Drohme) in order to make it a recreational and cultural site for families.

The philosophy of intervention applied in the framework of this project is based on the desire to recover the picturesque character of the original buildings and to make the site more coherent and easier to interpret as a whole. This motivation is also based on the historical link between the buildings of the Hippodrome. The most important and significant interventions on the site will be preserved, while the non-original and irrelevant extensions will be removed. Some modifications are also envisaged to improve the comfort of the users (insulation, ventilation, natural light) and to integrate the buildings into the 21st century.

Given the diversity of style and materiality among the various buildings, the restoration work is quite wide-ranging and involves many different crafts and passionate craftsmen. Among others, there is timberwork (restoration and reconstruction of cornices, steps, doors, etc. , but also restoration and reinforcement of roof structures), steelwork (restoration of metal roof structures, reconstruction of rivets, restoration and reconstruction of old window frames, etc. ), plasterwork ( tyrolean plaster, false brick plaster with reconstruction of polychromy, etc. ), but also stonework, brickwork, reinforced concrete, wrought iron, etc.