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Résidence Palace is a building in the European Quarter of Brussels. Built in the interwar period, it has partly been listed as a historic monument. In later years it has been a press centre of EU institutions. It is currently being renovated and enlarged before it is scheduled to be taken over by the Council of the European Union in 2013.
It is located in the European Quarter on the rue de la Loi. Next to the building is the Justus Lipsius (current location for the EU Council) and across the road from the Berlaymont and Charlemagne buildings of the European Commission.
History
Wallon Businessman Lucien Kaisin planned the building following the end of the First World War. It was to be a luxurious apartment block for the bourgeoisie and aristocracy of the city following a housing shortage caused by the war. It was also intended to address the shortage of domestic workers at the time by having them available to all residents. Kaisin described the building as "a small town within a city".
The building was designed by a Swiss architect Michel Polak and the foundation stone of the Art Deco building was laid on 1923-05-30 with the first residents moving in in 1927. and when it was completed it became the largest apartment block in Europe including facilities such as a theatre, swimming pool and numerous commercial facilities.
Following the Second World War, the building was bought by Belgian government to house administrative apartments. It was partly rebuilt in the 1960s and some elements are listed historic monuments. Although once scheduled for demolition, it was turned into an international press centre for the surrounding European Quarter.
Future
Rendering of the future seat of EU Concil and the European Council.
In 2004 it was agreed the building would be taken over by the Council of the European Union and the European Council as their new headquarters, leaving Justus Lipsius as a secondary meeting building. A competition was opened to redesign the building to suit the needs of the institutions. In 2005 it was announced that the winning design was that submitted by Samyn & Partners (Belgium), Studio Valle Progettazioni (Italy) and Buro Happold (United Kingdom).[1] Plans include the addition of a large, modern extension, with a contemporary glass facade. The construction of this new extension is planned to be finished in 2013.[citation needed]
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