Modern lounge and dining area with beige sofas, wooden tables, and large windows overlooking a garden with greenery and outdoor seating

CBD Pavilion

Scope

D'Ieteren, a major player in the Belgian mobility market, entrusted us with the redesign of a small pavilion on their Kortenberg site - a two-floor building originally designed for office use and connected to the production hall.

While the upper floor will remain dedicated to office spaces, the renovation focuses on 600 m² of the ground floor, which will be transformed to host shared areas, including a 100-seat canteen for employees, meeting rooms, essential facilities, and a new kitchen relocated from its original position to serve the entire D'Ieteren campus.

Aerial black and white view of an industrial complex with annotated arrows and eye symbols indicating a visual direction toward a central building

Glass entrance of a modern building reflecting parked cars and a person walking by, with the name 'D'Ieteren' visible on the doors

Tranquil garden courtyard with green metal tables and chairs on gravel ground, surrounded by flowering plants and adjacent to a modern building with large glass windows

Modern office coffee lounge area with pendant lighting, a central island, coffee machines, and people interacting and working in a relaxed atmosphere

Contemporary dining area with custom circular and oval tables, green upholstered bench seating, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a lush outdoor garden

Close-up view through glass showing overlapping reflections of outdoor garden furniture, indoor round tables, pendant lights, and flowering trees

Detail of a round wooden table with black woven chairs, an open book, and a globe pendant light in a modern, minimalist interior with warm lighting and natural materials

Modern meeting room with a long wooden table, swivel chairs, pendant lights, and floor-to-ceiling windows offering a view of a lush garden with trees and plants

View of a tranquil garden with green chairs and blooming plants seen through a glass window with sheer curtains, as a blurred person walks by inside

LUNCH & MEET AROUND THE GARDEN

The design approach was driven by a clear and impactful idea: to transform the patio from an obstructed, underused space into the vibrant heart of the project.

Framed by existing glass panels, the garden became an anchor for the daily life of its users, inviting nature inside with its greenery, blooming flowers, and freshness.

This not only enhanced transparency and visibility but also created a calm, engaging environment throughout the building.

With minimal structural constraints, limited to a few technical blocks, the building’s simple layout allowed for a flexible reorganization.

The main functions were strategically positioned: the kitchen was placed along the only opaque façade, linked to the production and distribution zone, while the canteen wrapped around two sides of the patio, connected to the entrance and reception. Meeting rooms and support facilities occupied the opposite side, ensuring all spaces opened onto the garden.

The main entrance was also rethought to align with the new design, adding elegance and coherence to the intervention. The entry volume was repainted black, complemented by sleek black exterior blinds, giving the façade a more cohesive and refined character, in line with the overall concept of simplicity, openness, and connection to nature.

Axonometric 3D rendering of a building interior layout featuring a central open courtyard with trees, surrounded by various workspaces, meeting rooms, and dining areas

Hand-drawn diagram comparing existing and proposed floor plans, showing a transformation centered around an open patio terrace and reorganized functions like meeting rooms and a self-service area

Top-down view of five people having lunch together at a green outdoor table in a garden setting with gravel ground, flowers, and greenery

Bright dining area with wooden tables and chairs next to large glass windows overlooking a lush courtyard garden

Close-up of a green metal outdoor chair next to a table, surrounded by blooming flowers and casting dappled shadows on gravel

Interior view from a corridor toward a shared dining space with black chairs and large windows opening to a garden with trees and boulders

Minimalist furniture and honest materials frame a serene view of the garden. The large windows dissolve the boundary between inside and outside, turning the landscape into an integral part of the shared space.

Detailed architectural floor plan in black and white showing the layout of workspaces, meeting rooms, and a central garden courtyard

Bright lounge area with beige sofas, black round coffee tables, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a garden

Outdoor dining area seen through a window, with striped green chairs and blooming plants

Light wooden chairs around a rectangular table next to large windows reflecting lush green vegetation

Modern meeting room with a long wooden conference table, brown swivel chairs, and large windows with curtains offering natural light

Man walking through a modular meeting room, activating sliding partition walls to separate the meeting room into two areas

Contemporary meeting room with a long wooden table, brown swivel chairs, and a row of minimalist pendant lights above

Minimalist meeting room with a square wooden table, white chairs, and natural daylight filtering through sheer curtains

Close-up of textured beige sofa fabric next to a polished concrete and stone floor surface

BLURRING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE

The project embraced the budget constraint as an opportunity, pushing toward efficient, creative solutions that focused on revealing the building’s industrial features and finishes, and reusing part of the existing furniture.

A warm, natural palette of mineral and earthy tones was proposed, incorporating sustainable materials to complement the garden’s freshness and “zen” spirit.

Exposed concrete beams, previously hidden behind plaster ceilings, added texture and character, while the junction between old and new flooring tiles was highlighted as a deliberate detail.

Acoustic cork panels were used both decoratively and functionally, wrapping walls, ceilings, and equipment blocks. Staying true to the "do more with less" philosophy, the existing carpet was cleaned and reused, while meeting room tables, chairs, and some light fixtures were repurposed from the former office spaces.

Minimal interventions in the garden defined planting zones and introduced outdoor seating, allowing for dining outside when weather permits. Plants were simply refreshed and pruned, ensuring that a lush, blooming garden welcomes users in spring.

Framing views of the previously ignored garden, its greenery now filters softly through linen curtains, blurring the boundaries with the interior, where wooden furniture and subtle green accents extend the natural ambiance smoothly into the space.

Close-up of a beige textured fabric sofa over a concrete and natural stone floor transition.

Light-filtering linen curtains draping softly over a textured carpeted floor.

Minimal black ceiling spotlight track mounted on a textured white ceiling with exposed concrete beams.

Modern circular pendant light above meeting chairs with layered curtains in the background.

Detail of natural cork wall panels in different shades at a corner junction.

High chair at a concrete bar with dark cork paneling and spherical pendant lights.

Detail of a textured concrete tile wall with a mirror featuring rounded corners.

Long meeting table with integrated power outlets, surrounded by cushioned chairs and modern pendant lights.

Sheer curtain and glass wall offering a view of a tranquil garden with flowering plants and trees.

Lush garden with a maple tree and flowering bushes, seen through a glass wall next to a green outdoor seating area.

Modern green lounge chairs and round tables arranged in a well-lit interior with a soft, minimalist palette

Two people sitting on a modular beige sofa in a lounge, facing large windows with views of a leafy courtyard.

Bright and modern interior lounge with round wooden tables, black chairs, white sofas, spherical pendant lights, and large windows overlooking a garden. A wooden staircase and a person working in the background add depth to the open space.

Close-up of a round green wooden stool placed under a light oak table in a modern interior.

Wooden chair seen through a glass window with reflections of lush greenery from the outside garden.

Top view of two green circular side tables illuminated by sharp sunlight, casting bold shadows.

Close-up of a green bespoke bench with textured upholstery, partially in shadow.

Outdoor green metal chair next to blooming white flowers and gravel flooring, surrounded by greenery.

Detail of flooring showing the transition between smooth beige concrete and irregular stone tiles.

A light wood and metal chair beside a thick, textured tabletop in a bright modern setting.

Close-up of a light beige upholstered modular sofa on a polished stone tile floor.

Kitchen & services

The original production kitchen was relocated to the ground floor of the CBD Pavilion, becoming the main kitchen for the entire D'Ieteren campus.

Our mission involved the complete redesign and fit-out of both the production kitchen and the self-service area, totaling 250 m².

With a capacity to serve 200 people, 100 of whom can be accommodated in the newly designed dining area, the space was adapted to the workers' shift patterns, ensuring a smooth flow throughout the day.
The design of the self-service area was carefully aligned with the rest of the space, using matching materials and finishes to ensure a unified, cohesive environment.

The kitchen was positioned for direct, efficient access from the production hall, ensuring functionality while remaining discreetly integrated into the overall layout.