Hôtel de police – Charleroi Police Headquarters, Belgium |

The police station in Charleroi was developed by architect Jean Nouvel as the city’s second major landmark. A vertical blue tower building, 75 m high, in an elliptical cylinder shape characterises the face of the city and forms the centrepiece of the Carolorégienne Police. The city skyline is now dominated by the bell tower of the city hall and the “blue tower”.
The building design was selected in an international competition in 2011. Atelier Jean Nouvel’s well-known works include the Philharmonie de Paris, the Institut du monde arabe Paris, the High-Rise Office Building in Qatar and the Agbar Tower Barcelona, Spain.

Design of the urban space
Two wings of the former Defeld barracks were renovated and preserved for energy efficiency. As significant examples of regional brick architecture, they delimit the open space of the urban area. In interaction with the vertical development of the blue tower, a large open urban space could be created. This space was designed with red-coloured and blue glazed ABC clay pavers.

The Police Hall of Charleroi / Danses Charleroi project received the “Best Future Project” award at the 22nd MIPIM, Cannes (Real Estate Exhibition) in 2012.