The City of Brussels’ alderman for land administration, Lydia Mutyebele, has announced a temporary project showcasing Brussels culture that will be housed in the iconic Continental building situated at the entrance to the pedestrian area. Bruxselair, a non-profit association, will provide various commercial concepts in the former six-storey hotel that dates back to 1874. A space dedicated to Horeca, slow fashion designers, thrift stores, concept stores, tattoo shops, barbershops, hairdressers, and coworking spaces will be available across the floors. The top floors will house the offices of the Federation of the Night. The initiative is temporary, while the City seeks an original and creative occupant for the building’s nearly 4000 m² space for a period of 50 years, possibly extendable to a maximum of 99 years.
A temporary project highlighting Brussels culture is settling in the iconic Continental building on Place De Brouckère, the gateway to the pedestrian area, for the next 18 months, announced Thursday the alderman of the City of Brussels, in charge of the land administration, Lydia Mutyebele.
The non-profit association Bruxselair will offer various commercial formulas in this former six-storey hotel dating from 1874. “On the ground floor and in the mezzanine, visitors will have access to a space dedicated to Horeca: Brunch, Coffice, and a large terrace for sunny days and nights.The first floor will host slow fashion designers and thrift stores while the upper floors will allow designers, concept stores (craftsmen, vinyls, etc.), tattoo shops, barbershops and hairdressers to “exhibit their art. On the top floors will be the offices of the federation of the night as well as a coworking space”, describes the press release from the cabinet of the alderman.
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She is delighted that the Continental “will be transformed into a hub where young designers, creators, hairdressers, tattoo artists and many others will express their art and their talents”. The space will become “this point of junction and expression for creators who will have at their disposal a physical space at a democratic cost, open to all”, explains Ms. Mutyebele.
This initiative is intended to be temporary while the City of Brussels is looking for a commercial project to occupy the almost 4000 m² of the building. The land management services are indeed looking for a new occupant “who would bring an original and creative initiative” for a period of 50 years, extendable for a maximum of 99 years, according to the press release.
“The continental building, iconic and strategic, gateway to the pedestrian area, offers an exceptional location worthy of a unique and original business that will be able to take advantage of these assets to contribute to the identity of our city center. By reducing the procedures, we hope to widen the field of possibilities to a wider spectrum of economic actors”, announces for his part Fabian Maingain, alderman of Economic Affairs, Employment, Smart City and Administrative Simplification.
The Continental building on Place De Brouckère will now serve as a hub for young creators and artists to showcase their talents in Brussels. Thanks to the temporary initiative by the non-profit association Bruxselair, the building will be transformed into a space for slow fashion designers, concept stores, tattoo shops, barbershops, hairdressers, and more. The project will run for 18 months while the City of Brussels looks for an original and creative initiative to take advantage of the building’s exceptional location. This initiative holds great potential for the economic actors involved and is a promising development for the city center.
