New Work Environments Completed for D'Ieteren

This summer, the Volkswagen D’Ieteren Finance building was completed on the eastern edge of the Erps-Kwerps campus. Set within a gradually transforming campus, the building now presents a renewed presence on the site, balancing continuity with a clear, contemporary expression. 

The decision to renovate rather than demolish the existing structure reflects a deliberate commitment to circularity and sustainability. The transformation began with stripping away superfluous elements, reducing the building to its essential structure and recovering a clear, streamlined volume. From this basis, a flexible casco was developed, capable of adapting to future uses and potential new occupants. 

Technical spaces were relocated to the blind concrete façades on the north and south sides, freeing the east and west elevations for generous openings that strengthen the connection with the surrounding landscape. A portico extends the building, framing two outdoor spaces: a south-facing colonnade marking the entrance and a staff courtyard with mineral surfaces, vegetation, and filtered views through a moucharabieh screen. Rising twelve metres to the cornice, the building’s verticality is emphasized only by the colonnade, while façades of brick and light-toned concrete introduce relief and texture, and the exposed concrete portico reinforces the clarity of the overall form.

At the western corner of the site, POLO had earlier completed the neighboring D’Ieteren House, now the headquarters of D’Ieteren Automotive, accommodating over 400 employees. The 6,000-square-metre building is based on an 8 × 8 metre structural grid, allowing flexible use over time. North and south façades open the central space to the park under a 4-metre-wide concrete canopy supported by ten-metre-high columns referencing tree trunks. East and west volumes house secondary functions, while light-toned brick façades and a horizontal concrete band balance vertical and horizontal compositions. Designed as a passive, circular, and emission-free building, D’Ieteren House aspires to achieve a BREEAM Outstanding certification, underscoring its commitment to environmental performance and sustainable design.