Le Globe

Le Globe is an apartment building located in Knokke-Heist where the facades are given a completely new look.

The renovation of the facade of Le Globe contributes to the architectural refreshment of the seawall. This project underlines the sustainable nature of concrete. The existing structure has a new facade with a lifespan of 50 years. The works were carried out without compromising the use of the building.

The existing facade has been stripped. The supporting structure has been extensively analyzed and reinforced where necessary. The reinforcement of the structure also serves as a console on which the new columns in architectural concrete are suspended. The new columns in turn receive the horizontal elements.

Allele connections are designed in such a way that they can fulfill their role in the aggressive maritime climate for the next 50 years. The combination of large concrete cover and slender prefab elements required 3D modeling of the reinforcement to avoid conflicts at the level of the consoles during execution.

The columns are casted vertically. A white and self-compacting concrete based on Aalborg White® cement has been used for all white concrete elements. The specific texture of the concrete elements surface was partly achieved by micro-washing and partly by using seamlessly smooth concrete for the indoor surfaces. Built-in sensors indicated the right time to wash out.

With this project, the prefab concrete industry is showing that it is ready to meet the challenges that the renovation market will offer us in the coming years.

2018 FEBE Outstanding Precast Award

Le Globe is praised by the jury for its original renovation, made possible by the application of prefab concrete, past and present. The old, protruding and weathered prefab concrete parts were easy to dismantle, the underlying concrete structure was retained.

The new U-shaped parts were pushed over it like a mecano. They form the new balconies and vertical façade elements. It is an aesthetic and at the same time energetic renovation that could not have taken place in this way without this innovative solution.

While the old concrete structure is retained, the apartment block still gets a completely new expression. It looks like a new construction project.