ABSTRACT
Towers that were once applauded and then disgraced are again popular in the architectural landscape of Belgium. The reuse of tower buildings is an important topic on the agenda of the social and urban development. Post-war office towers were framed within the new logic of the post-war society based on growth, innovation, standardization and economies of scale. The architectural concept of these towers, focusing on functionality, harmony, effectiveness and efficiency, often led to constructions without reserve load bearing capacity. This chapter illustrates the dilemmas of modernist architecture by means of concrete post-war office towers and suggests that solutions how a transition towards adaptive reuse is possible. To highlight best practices, two office towers in Antwerp, the EBES building and the BP building, both designed by the famous modernistic architect Leon Stynen. Van den Brand outlines the difference in the process between a new building and a reuse project.
