Tondo is a footbridge in the center of Brussels that connects the offices of the Chamber of Representatives with its recent extension, the Forum building, on the other side of the street. The bridge was explicitly designed as a spatial element rather than a technical solution. Named after the Renaissance tradition of the tondo, a circular work of art, it is shaped like a ring and tucked between the facades of the two buildings. It offers a generous walk – a ‘detour’ – around an enclosed outer space, which also functions as an escape route and a meeting place. At the same time, the ‘detour’ allows the height difference between the buildings to be bridged by means of a single, accessible 4% slope. Towards the city, the bridge shows itself as a ‘closed’ element – in the tradition of the Bridge of Sighs in Venice – coated with mirrored panels that reflect the surroundings and blur its presence in its context. From closer up, a subtle view of the passages between the two buildings is revealed through the opening. Structurally, the bridge can be described as a stiff disc: the floor hangs from the roof with a minimal presence – a near ephemeral pavilion between the buildings...[+]


Obra Work
[227] Tondo

Cliente Client
The Federal Government of Belgium  

Arquitecto Architect
OFFICE / Kersten Geers, David Van Severen
Bert Rogiers, Steven Bosmans, Stefaan Jamaer, Enea Facoetti (equipo team)

Colaboradores Collaborators
Bollingher+Grohmann; Kenny Verbeeck en Brecht Van De Velde (estructura structure); Henk Pijpaert Engineering (instalaciones technical engineer)

Superficie Area
105 m²

Fotos Photos
Bas Princen