Provincial Administrative House Namur. Celebrating diversity and harmony

The Administration of the Province of Namur, Belgium, commissions the construction of a single building to bring together all services. The aim is to create a new intellectual center that citizens and workers will deeply cherish

Experiencing pleasure through art and culture

In the Salzinnes site, in a basin of the Sambre River, the new Provincial Administrative House of Namur MAP (Maison Administrative Provinciale) reflects the rurality of the area and the symbiotic relationship between man and nature. Its program aims to invite the five senses to experience pleasure through art and culture. Commissioned to the company Philippe SAMYN and PARTNERS srl, whose architectural projects are regularly published in international magazines, the building falls into the "Outstanding" category of the sustainability classification BREEAM

Simple and natural like a large farm or a small village

The new Provincial Administrative House of Namur has the shape of a large rectangle measuring 106.2 by 61.65 meters and is located in the area of the site farthest from the Sambre River, outside the flood zone and sheltered from the noise of the railway that runs along the opposite bank. Oriented on the northwest/southeast diagonal like an archetypal Roman camp, it is developed on a cardo and a decumanus with its multiple functions: work and transportation to the east, reception and ceremonial entrance to the south, party area to the west (with the square occasionally serving as a parking lot) and recreational areas under the dreamy and meditative influence of the north. Everything is simple and natural like the layout of a large farm or a small village

The MAP Program

The building is two levels and is constructed with wood and steel pillars, with a flat roof on which solar panels are installed. Organized around eight courtyards measuring 15.3 by 11.25 meters each, which serve as patios for ventilation and natural light. On the ground floor of the MAP there is a welcoming reception, a cafeteria that can accommodate up to 300 people, areas for visitor reception, a relaxation room, and a fitness room with showers. This is complemented by a large laboratory, warehouses, and changing rooms for staff. The first floor houses offices, as well as spaces for concentration, meeting rooms, and relaxation areas to promote socializing among colleagues. All spaces are equipped with openings that allow enjoyment of the surrounding gardens

Give the building a lived-in and personalized soul

The facades are in wood and the structure is strictly organized based on a structural frame of 1.35 m per side. The architecture is deliberately neutral to allow for the joyful expression of the human diversity contained within it. The characterization of the interior spaces is evident in the finishes enhanced by artistic creations: fabrics, leathers, wallpapers, etc. The furnishings are second-hand or made from recycled materials, with the possibility for each user to propose new pieces to the group that express their personality, always with the aim of gaining the affection of people and giving the building a lived-in and personalized soul

Urban agriculture, a centuries-old tradition in Namur

The emphasis placed by the tender on urban agriculture reflects a centuries-old tradition in Namur. The part of the plot not occupied by the building is entirely dedicated to horticulture and recreational activities for the staff. In the Northeast, there is the educational garden, with cultivation in open ground, a greenhouse and nursery, cultivation area in boxes, and a staff garden; in the Northwest, a large biodiversity garden and relaxation area with a fitness trail and "bug hotels"; finally, in the Southwest, there is the garden of scented roses and the therapeutic garden

Gallery

PEOPLE

Philippe SAMYN and PARTNERS srl

Chau. de Waterloo 1537, 1180 Uccle, Bruxelles, Belgium