The largest passive building

Brussels, Belgium

At work

Indoor courtyard of the Herman Teirlinck building with landscaped planting beds, gravel paths and several Hopper benches beneath a high glass roof.

With a surface area of 66,500 m², the Herman Teirlinck building on the Tour & Taxis site in Brussels is the largest passive building in Belgium. The beating heart of the building is a covered, indoor street. Here, all common functions shared by staff and visitors — such as a central information desk, restaurant, reception rooms, auditoriums, exhibition space, and meeting centers — are located.

Following the biophilic principles

The communal spaces of the building follow biophilic design principles, providing the people inside with a connection to nature. Because of this, they experience a higher level of productivity and it improves their overall well-being. The street provides access to four large indoor gardens, which provide daylight to the floors above and are not climate controlled.

Two coworkers sit with laptops at a long communal table on Captain’s Chairs, framed by floor-to-ceiling windows and tall indoor trees.
“A wood-topped Hopper combo with black Captain’s Chairs stands in a planted indoor garden, seen through hanging green leaves.
A man works alone at a wood-topped Hopper combo in a quiet indoor garden surrounded by lush planting and brick façades.

By using our furniture, the experience of being outside is effectively amplified indoors.

Green spaces

These green spaces make the transition from inside to outside a seamless experience, regardless of the weather. Strategically placed in the gardens alongside the lush vegetation, are a number of Extremis’ Hopper tables and benches to create the perfect place to take a break from work and recharge.

“Indoor garden courtyard with gravel paths, dense greenery and several Hopper benches arranged beneath the glazed atrium roof.
“Tall view of the interior courtyard showing Hopper benches among planting beds inside the brick-and-glass passive office building.
“Two people work side by side on black Captain’s Chairs at a long wooden communal table in the building’s indoor street.

Balance between well-being and productivity

These courtyards provide five-meter-high green oases: multifunctional spaces where workers and visitors can escape into nature. In total, the Herman Teirlinck building provides 1,800 flexible workplaces for 2,600 people. Not only is this in line with the rising trend of working remotely, it also means that employees are free to choose the spot in the office that is best suited to their current task.

Every workplace is a generous 20 square meters. Ample working space, together with the four courtyard gardens, provide the ideal environment to strike a balance between well-being and productivity.

Close-up of an empty Hopper bench on pale gravel, with low planting and the courtyard façade softly blurred behind it.

Pictures by Beeldcollectief
Architect: Neutelings Riedijk Architects
Garden planning: Avantgarden

Featured products

Hopper bench

Hopper bench with wooden seat and tabletop on a galvanized steel frame

Captain's Chair

Captain’s Pipe Chair with fitted seat cushion

Hopper wood

Hopper picnic table with wooden tabletop and benches