This new pre-day care is built next to the existing school buildings. It accommodates 30 toddlers and 6 child-care workers. The shell of the building has been designed to minimise energy losses as well as undesired heat gains. The heating requirement is limited to only 14.5 kWh/m².yr (Brussels average: 106). Ventilation is mechanical, and using a heat exchanger.
Ventilation is also possible in the summer making use of the thermal capacity of the concrete roofing slabs. They store cool air accumulated during the night and return it to the interior of the premises during the day (passive cooling). This solution allows installation of an air-conditioning system to be avoided.
An intensive green roof has been planned, providing excellent thermal and acoustic insulation. It also ensures progressive drainage of rainwater, thus avoiding overburdening the drainage systems. Rainwater is also recovered from the neighbouring roof.

Address:

Rue du Gulden Bodem 2, 1080 Molenbeek

Client:

Molenbeek Municipality

Architect:

A2M

Engineering design:

MATRIciel, JZH