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The Royal Conservatory of Brussels and the Conservatoire Royale de Bruxelles share a historically valuable architectural ensemble. The monumental building on Regentschapstraat, along with the former director’s and secretary’s residences, forms an exceptional late 19th-century complex designed by architect Jean-Pierre Cluysenaar. On Wolstraat, five heritage houses, some dating back to the 17th century, create a distinctive and historically layered streetscape.
This heritage ensemble is being carefully restored and upgraded to meet modern standards. To accommodate a growing student population, a new building is being added to the site. The extension will include high-performance masterclass rooms, two new concert halls, and an underground archive. The overall design preserves the site’s cultural and architectural significance while ensuring a sustainable future for both conservatories.
Daidalos has been involved since the competition phase, allowing acoustic principles to be integrated from the outset. The existing concert hall is being completely renovated. Acoustic measurements revealed excessive reverberation time, leading to the creation of a calibrated 3D model to test proposed interventions. Improvements include replacing carpet with wood flooring and installing less absorbent seating. The absorption coefficient of the current seats was measured in Daidalos’ acoustic laboratory to refine the new seating specifications.
Music classrooms are distributed strategically between the existing and new buildings: the quieter, individual instruction rooms remain in the existing structures, while the new building accommodates louder instruments and ensemble work. Acoustic simulations helped tailor reverberation times and sound quality to the specific instruments used.
Two new high-quality halls are being created: a chamber music hall for rehearsals and performances, and a rehearsal hall for symphonic orchestra. Both feature variable acoustics, allowing reverberation times to be adjusted between 0.8/0.9 seconds and 1.4 seconds using movable wooden panels and curtains. This flexibility supports both large ensembles and intimate performances.
The project targets a BREEAM “Excellent” rating, already achieved in the Design Stage. A bespoke certification scheme was developed to address the complex mix of heritage and new construction. Sustainability principles were deepened through life cycle cost analyses of measures such as secondary glazing, ground-source heat pumps, and durable interior finishes. Advanced simulations assessed daylight access, indoor climate, ventilation efficiency, and views to the outside, informing strategies for natural ventilation, shading, insulation, and glazing.
The new buildings exceed current insulation standards, while the existing structures are retrofitted with roof, floor, and wall insulation where heritage constraints permit. Climate change scenarios were also simulated to ensure long-term resilience.
Low-VOC materials were specified to ensure healthy indoor air quality, with emissions tested after construction. Energy performance was calculated according to regulatory standards, with Daidalos serving as EPB reporter. Dynamic simulations using EnergyPlus software optimized the geothermal balance for the heat pump system. Energy efficiency is further enhanced by thermal storage tanks and photovoltaic panels. A comprehensive metering system will monitor electricity, heating, cooling, and water use. Water efficiency is achieved through low-flow fixtures, rainwater reuse, and infiltration strategies, which also contribute to sustainable landscape design.
A demolition and material inventory was developed in collaboration with Rotor to identify reusable materials within the project or for external reuse. Fine dust emissions are minimized through renewable technologies and low-NOX heat generation, further reducing the project’s environmental footprint.
