The Lock

Context

In 2015, the supermarket chain Lidl acquired a former industrial site of 4245 m² in Molenbeek to build a new supermarket, as well as a housing estate designed to ensure a mix of functions in the district.  The block chosen consists of a first industrial building on rue Ransfort and a second on rue Indépendance, both convertible into housing, and a warehouse on rue Delaunoy large enough to accommodate the commercial part, as well as a car park in the central area.

Project study

Well versed in the construction of supermarkets, Lidl optimised its commercial space from the outset which will be built on the site of the industrial warehouse. To meet the needs of a big supermarket, this new structure has large spaces containing a minimum of obstacles. A contractor was quickly sought to implement its construction, as well as the 11 homes initially planned, distributed over 2000 m².

For this project, Gillion first performed an additional feasibility study that showed the possibility of optimising the residential part to be renovated. This was done by creating 21 apartments within the same volume, i.e. 10 additional units. This new proposal, which is better oriented to the needs of the market, offers a greater diversity of apartment types (with 1 to 3 bedrooms) at attractive prices. 

Production

Four development zones are identified. The first, rue Delaunoy, relates to the store whose plans that have already been drawn up by Lidl. On the ground floor, in the heart of the block, the car park for customers is also well advanced. However, this second zone will be enlarged and made private on the first floor to accommodate the residents' vehicles. These parking spaces have the advantage of being directly connected to the housing by a system of corridors and pathways crossing a green roof laid out by a landscape architect.

The former industrial building on rue Ransfort, the third development zone, will undergo a major space transformation to allow the creation of 6 apartments, measuring 65 to 83 m², spread over two floors. On the first floor, the tenants will enjoy a small, well arranged garden and on the second floor, a nice terrace. Finally, the last building, on rue de l'Indépendance, has a period red-brick façade that must be preserved. This technical constraint will push the architects to design 15 apartments with 1 to 3 rooms on 4 floors.

Construction

The construction is planned in two major phases: first the supermarket and then the housing. With regard to the accessibility of the site, the teams will start through the centre of the block. After a first demolition stage, which also includes the reduction of the building on rue Ransfort to two spans, the earthworks were started. The problem is that the soil revealed layers of past constructions and required long and complex clearing work. Once this step was complete, the foundations were laid with a pile system capable of supporting the heavy project loads. Then the teams constructed the car park and the structure of the store. No tower cranes can be installed on this site. It was therefore necessary to work with mobile cranes to place the prefabricated elements. The workers proceeded by progressively moving back towards rue Delaunoy.

Despite the major surprises during the earthworks, the Lidl supermarket was delivered within the contractual period and is now in operation. The housing will be finalised in 2020.