The results of the 2021 BREEAM Awards have just been announced. Tivoli GreenCity in Laeken has been awarded the best BREEAM project in Western Europe. Another Belgian project, De Faar by Beel (De Nieuwe Dokken) in Ghent, received a honourable mention in the 'Homes: Design Stage Award' category.

An exemplary neighbourhood

The new Tivoli GreenCity neighbourhood in Laeken is home to Greenbizz (an SME park, a fablab and an incubator for sustainable and innovative entrepreneurship all under one roof), some 400 passive and zero-energy houses, shops, two daycare centres and numerous communal meeting spaces. The architectesassoc+ firm designed the innovative Greenbizz construction, built by Bam Contractors.

Tivoli GreenCity aims to be an exemplary neighbourhood in terms of sustainable development, social diversity, and its integration into a dense and varied urban context.Good management of resources and energy is one of the project's key aspects. All the buildings are passive.A cogeneration system, photovoltaic panels, the treatment of grey water and an urban heating network have also been planned to limit the new neighbourhood's ecological footprint as much as possible. The entire project was designed by the temporary association ADRIANA (Cerau, Atelier 55, Atlante, YY Architecture and Eole) with the design office boydens engineering on the basis of an urban development project implemented by MSA.

The jury's opinion

For the jury, "Tivoli GreenCity has set the bar very high for future developments in Belgium. It is the first neighbourhood in Benelux to receive BREEAM Communities certification with one of the highest scores in the world, 95.0% - Exceptional. The project introduces a new positive atmosphere and open spaces in a very dense area. Despite fierce competition, these constructions were a significant cut above the others. The jury also hails the redevelopment of an industrial wasteland, the neighbourhood's holistic nature, and the way in which it promotes social diversity. Thanks to the sustainable solutions, 30% of the housing is energy neutral and wastewater has also been greatly reduced."

Each year, the BREAAM Awards reward excellence in sustainable construction, shining a spotlight on people, projects and organisations that are exceptional in terms of the design and development of innovative sustainable constructions.