Programme

Self-guided tour

KU Leuven – Odisee-hogeschool Campus Brussel

Ch. Bastin & J. Evrard © urban.brussels

Hogeschool Odisee and one of the Brussels campuses of KU Leuven share a campus in the heart of Brussels. The Brussels Campus has four main buildings: Erasmus, T’Serclaes, Terranova and Hermes. It is the last of these that is of interest to us here. The Hermes building was erected in two phases by brutalist and postmodern architect Alfons Hoppenbrouwers, who worked in Brussels in the 1980s and 1990s. The first phase, built to house the former St Aloysius University College of Economics (EHSAL), dates from between 1983 and 1987. The second, for the same institution, went up between 1991 and 1993. Here Hoppenbrouwers, drawing inspiration from Spanish postmodernist master Ricardo Bofill, offers a pastiche of classical architecture, serving as a foil to Belgian sculptor Jean-Paul Laenen’s two imposing statues on top of the building. They represent Athena and Hermes, the latter giving its name to the current building.

Practical information

Sat. 08:30 to 12:30

Rue d'Assaut/Stormstraat 2, BE-1000 Brussels

Advance booking not required.

Accessible with assistance

Accessible with assistance