Baltisse

Project Name
Baltisse
Function
Renovation of 2 retail units
Surface
9.450 m²
Location
Hasselt, Koning Albertstraat - Guffenslaan

concept

This project involves the renovation of two retail units in the heart of Hasselt. The L-shaped building with a total area of 9,450 m² will house two commercial units on one of the busiest shopping streets: a 900 m² Kruidvat pharmacy, beauty & health store and a 8,550 m² Galeria Inno outlet. Following its disappearance in the 1980s, Inno has returned to the same building in the centre of Hasselt.

Project Description

The renovation optimizes the shopping experience, while acknowledging the layout and circulation nodes of the whole building. On the ground floor, the Kruidvat store is fully glazed. Galeria Inno occupies the remaining space covering a total of four levels, and features a seven-metre glass façade over two of those floors. This brings in natural light and gives a sense or spaciousness as far in as possible inside the store.

The existing parking as well as the various roof volumes are to be entirely demolished. Afterwards, everything will be rebuilt to create space for Galeria Inno. This will ensure that the retail building meets fire safety standards and provide sufficient clearance.

A dark band brings unity and cohesion to the façades of both stores. In conjunction with this dark band, the projection of an upward façade pattern in sandblasted natural stone creates a sense of vertically in the urban fabric. The façade on the side of the Guffenslaan gets the same architectural line as the one on the Koning Alberstraat, but in black brick. It will hide the social areas of Galeria Inno.

Visitors can drive up into the car park via the Guffenslaan where a loading and unloading zone is planned in front of Galeria Inno. The car park entrance and the loading/unloading area have a dark aluminium finish.