User:Bangiomorpha/Hôtel des Chemins de Fer de Charleroi

The Hôtel des Chemins de Fer de Charleroi is an office building located in the quai de la Gare du Sud in Charleroi (Belgium). It was built in 1933 in collaboration with the engineer and architect of the SNCB/NMBS Paul Nouille and the architect Henry Van de Velde.

History
The building was created in order to consolidate the company's medical equipment logistics department, due to the rapid development of the rail transport system. The construction was the result of a collaboration between the engineer and architect Paul Nouille and the architect Henry Van de Velde. Paul Nouille worked for the SNCB as a specialist in railway equipment and infrastructure and the architect Henry Van de Velde, one of the most important precursors of the Modern Movement in Belgium, as an aesthetic consultant.

Put up for sale by the SNCB, the building was bought in August 2021 by the co-living company Ikoab and the Koeckelberg company for the sum of 1.65 million euros. The project to rehabilitate the property through co-living is aimed at young professionals who want well-equipped accommodation with services and facilities. The visual identity of the building will be maintained. The ground floor will be designed for accommodation for people with reduced mobility.

Architecture
The result of the collaboration between Paul Nouille and Henry Van de Velde is a functional office building that fits perfectly into the railway infrastructure. It is a building consisting of a higher central volume and two lower side bodies. The three levels that make up the volume are characterised by a brick and concrete construction structure, covered by a flat zinc roof. The gable towards Marius Maurée Avenue is set in the road context with a curved volume. The façade is characterised by the horizontal rhythm of the window bands with vertical punctuations made by the bays. The entrance to the car park is emphasised by the projecting glazed stairwell.