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Located on the former site of the Garenne school, on the northern edge of the city of Charleroi, the 5e Élément project creates a large public space framed by a multifunctional ensemble distributed across seven buildings. The project integrates into the urban landscape by alternating built volumes and green spaces, opening up long views and establishing a sense of openness towards the city. The use of brick as the sole façade material unifies the whole and echoes Belgium’s architectural tradition.

The programme is distributed across the seven towers: two office towers and five residential towers. Retail units occupy the ground floor, arranged around a large planted square, a pedestrian and animated public space where gardens and soft mobility routes become the backdrop to neighbourhood life.

The project achieves a NZEB (Nearly Zero Energy Building) performance level according to Belgian standards, with a strong reduction in carbon emissions. All dwellings benefit from dual aspect and the circulation spaces are naturally lit. The façade thickness varies according to orientation, reducing direct solar gain on the most exposed façades and maximising natural light in the less sunlit rooms.

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