a new
centerin operation
SHAPE’s headquarters, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, has been based in Casteau, Belgium, since 1967. Since 2019, ANMA, B2Ai and VK part of SWECO have been commissioned by the Belgian Ministry of Defense to design the new SHAPE operations center. The team is also in charge of designing a new building for the NCIA, NATO’s communications agency, which will perpetuate its presence in Mons.
The project consists of a 150,000 m² complex divided into three main units, buildings dedicated to parking, and landscaping for the entire area.
On a partially built-up 56-hectare site, the project is phased to allow the transfer of activities from the old office buildings to the new districts, followed by their demolition and the landscaping of the vacated areas.
the landscape
at the heart of the project
The SHAPE site lies at the heart of the Casteau forest, with its variously structured parcels: random woodland masses and stricter patterns resulting from silvicultural activities. In harmony with this great landscape, the urban plan of the project contributes to the renaturation of the site and is articulated around a central drève that draws a solemn perspective from the public space to the headquarters.
As most of the site cannot be densely planted with trees for safety reasons, the team uses defensive vocabulary to create a landscape of meadows, embankments and ditches that structures the large-scale site, reveals the architecture of the new infrastructures and hides the parking spaces. The buildings are designed around vast, densely planted patios that reinject nature into the heart of the project.
The depressions, network of vegetated valleys and basins enable all the site’s water to be managed naturally.
campus grid
and local materials
With the aim of creating a harmonious, coherent overall architecture, a unifying layout and a common grid guide the layout of the new buildings within a campus logic. The resonance of solids and voids creates a balanced composition, while covered outdoor galleries link the different entities and open onto the gardens.
The materials used here are few and mainly local. Brick, a material typical of the region, covers the foundations of all the buildings, in shades of green and brown: it links the new infrastructures to the landscape and ensures an architectural dialogue between the different entities.
The upper part of the facades is clad with large slabs of locally-produced Hainaut blue stone. They are installed according to the dimensions and orientations specific to the exposure of each facade, guaranteeing confidentiality and solar protection for the office floors.
high-quality office space
The buildings’ planted patios help to create a soothing, high-quality working environment for users, as well as providing climatic comfort through evapotranspiration.
The tertiary spaces have been designed with quality of use in mind: passive solar protection, generous ceiling heights in all spaces, comfort vents in the offices. They are designed with a high degree of flexibility: all techniques are used to ensure that they can be redeveloped without major works.
The brick foundations of the eight-metre-high buildings create mezzanine and double-height spaces for the main corridors, conference center and restaurants.
PROJECT TEAM
DESIGN TEAM
Architects: ANMA, B2AI
Engineering: VK part of Sweco
Landscaping: Fieldwork
Lighting: 8’18”
STUDIES
Philippine Davout, Pol-Alain Nedelec, Francesca Mazzone, Théo Fakis, Xavier Muller, Sarah Eyermann, Miguel Figueiredo, Ricardo Carvajal, Charlotte Le Gallo, Noémie Laval, Matija Solomun, Bastien Lescure
BIM
Alexis Guilhaumaud, Loukas Delevaux, Zeineb Jaziri
MODEL
Bénédicte Crespin
CERTIFICATION
BREEAM Very Good
TECHNICAL SHEET
PHASE On-going research
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
PMT SHAPE-NCIA
CALENDAR 2019-2032
AREA 150,000 m² SP
VIEWS Air Studio
SEE MORE
Brussels, Belgian Defense Headquarters
Limoges, Palais de Justice
Paris, Ministry of Defense