The Cosmopolitan and Oana Bogdan are featured in the Renovation Story: Sleeping Giants, a HouseEurope! film by station+.
This Renovation Story explores the potential of vacant office buildings, often referred to as “Sleeping Giants”, to be converted into housing. Many European cities are facing a high proportion of vacant office spaces, which contrasts with the growing demand for affordable housing. Brussels is especially affected by this issue, with roughly 1 million square meters of empty office space. In response, local actors are exploring ways to address this challenge, asking: What should be done with the sleeping giants?
The story highlights various strategies for tackling office vacancy, including the Cosmopolitan. These approaches use a variety of methods, ranging from temporary uses to permanent transformation, to repurpose buildings. The strategies cover everything from bottom-up initiatives like interim activations for artists and activists to top-down development and housing projects. The aim is to revitalize vacant office areas and turn them into functional spaces that meet the needs of the community.
Watch the film here.
Author(s): Reto Kluser, Loris Müller, Julian Pauchard
Contributor(s): Oana Bogdan, Olivier Robberechts, Ward Verbakel