Region delivers planning permit for Manufakture

1. Planning permit for Manufakture

In 2019, Abattoir organised an architecture competition for this building together with the Brussels Bouwmeester/Maître Architecte (chief architect). Winner BAUKUNST successfully met the spatial challenges of a building with mixed functions on the site. Access to the building for logistics and other vehicles has been designed with the purpose of limiting their impact and giving pedestrians and cyclists as much space as possible.

The Manufakture building itself consists of two stacked duplexes. Two large galleries are installed on the north side of the building, referring to the site’s industrial scale. That side houses the agri-food function and related offices, activating the facade. The roof design is that of a large pergola creating a dialogue with the opposite Foodmet verandas. In addition, this beautiful rooftop terrace offers an impressive view of the Brussels skyline. As the planning permission has been granted, the construction of the Manufakture will start in the coming months.

The building will be partly financed via the ERDF fund and is expected to be inaugurated in spring 2024.

1. The region and the VGC cover the extra costs of the structural reinforcement of the Manufakture building so that it can host an outdoor swimming pool on the roof.

The Brussels Government has approved the principle of an investment subsidy of € 2,127,000 to reinforce the structure of the Manufakture warehouse and acquire the right in rem on the roof to build an open-air swimming pool on it, within a public-public partnership.

This financing is added to a planned maximum investment of 1,800,000 euros from the Flemish Community Commission (VGC) for this reinforcement.

Thanks to the support of Rudi Vervoort, Pascal Smet is making the necessary funds available within his VGC competences and is mobilising regional resources to make an ambitious swimming pool project possible. The VGC, the municipality of Anderlecht and the region are involved in this ambitious project as structural partners, while the SAU will continue to guide the project development. The SAU had also conducted the feasibility study, approved by the government.

The next steps will be to negotiate the right in rem on the roof, find financing for the swimming pool construction and operation and launch a DBFM contract to find a private partner that will design, build, maintain and operate the swimming complex. It goes without saying that the architectural quality will have to be in line with Manufakture and the potential of the site.

The project has been estimated at about 17.5 million euros excluding VAT (including the reinforcement of the underlying structure).

With this first contribution, the government can respond to the great need for additional swimming space in the Brussels Region by initiating the construction of a complex with indoor and outdoor swimming pools based on a vision in which sustainable development and public accessibility of the site are a priority. With this project, the project developers and the authorities aim to create a new experience and a new public space at height. In this regard, the roof (with a surface similar to that of the Grand Place) will be accessible to everyone, independently of the outdoor swimming pool, and activities and festivities can be organised there.

The region will also ensure that all Brusselers have access to the swimming pool via the procurement that has yet to be launched. In this way, everyone can enjoy this unique swimming location with a view of the city for a reasonable price.

"Today, the region has offered itself the opportunity to build an ambitious swimming pool project that is accessible to all, in a neighbourhood that is most in need of this type of infrastructure in Brussels. This major regional facility will be located in a district that is easily accessible by public transport, making it easy for all Brusselers to get there. With this decision, the region has taken another step towards opening this central, symbolic site to the public. An objective to which other major public investments in urban renovation in the neighbourhood will contribute,” explained Minister-President Rudi Vervoort.

“Brussels needs swimming pools in general and an outdoor swimming pool in particular. Last year's FLOW project was the clearest proof of this. Thanks to this key decision, this project on the Abattoir site is definitively on track, which makes me very proud. It was made possible thanks to the support of Rudi Vervoort and the commitment of the municipality of Anderlecht and its mayor Fabrice Cumps. I had already released a large budget through my competences at the Flemish Community Commission. From now on, the Brussels Government will support the project. Because those who do not have the opportunity to go to Cannes or Knokke in the summer should have the opportunity to relax in the water nearby. With this swimming pool at 5 minutes from the city centre, that will be possible. We owe it to the young Brusselers.” said Pascal Smet, State Secretary for Urbanism.

“The municipality of Anderlecht is a major partner in the reconversion of the entire Abattoir site in the heart of the Cureghem district. This decision is a first major step because it perfectly illustrates our ambitions for mixed functions on this strategic site. The local authorities therefore fully support the project for a swimming pool accessible to the public since it is greatly needed, especially by our many schoolchildren.” explained Fabrice Cumps, Mayor of Anderlecht.

"In its master plan, Abattoir has always showed the intention to use a sustainable urban vision for the roofs of its new developments. Foodmet, with its urban farm, is a good example of this. Through the non-profit association “Pool is Cool” we got the idea of a swimming pool for the Manufakture building, an idea we have continued to pursue. It is a socially very relevant project in our very densely populated neighbourhood, where many schoolchildren hardly ever learn to swim at school. Now, together with the government, we are creating a new urban asset in Brussels. Even at height. Isn't that great? I would like to thank all believers for their support,” said Elke Tiebout, CEO of Abatan.

"It is great to see that our commitment in recent years to construct an outdoor pool in Brussels has been rewarded. The importance of the open-air swimming pool to urban life quality cannot be underestimated. Open-air swimming pools are places of social cohesion. Thanks to the combination with a swimming hall, the project will be used throughout the year, both indoors and outdoors. By using Manufakture's residual heat to warm the pools, the open-air swimming pool will be ecologically sound even in winter. It must now be ensured that easy access for everyone is maintained in the later development of the project. That is why it is important that the authorities remain on board with three different institutions (region, municipality and VGC) as project holders. Slowly but surely Brussels is leaving behind its role as the only major European city without an outdoor swimming pool and that is a good thing! In the meantime, with FLOW we will ensure that all Brusselers can have a refreshing swim in the years to come," Paul Steinbrück, co-founder of POOL IS COOL.