In the 19th century, the village blacksmith was also the man who provided your horse with new shoes. It was not until the early 20th century that the first genuine school for farriers was established in Belgium. This farrier’s workshop, located on the border of Molenbeek and Anderlecht, still exists today: together with the abattoirs and the veterinary college it is one of the last vestiges of Anderlecht’s rich history as a centre of livestock trade. The Flemish division of this institute separated from the Walloon division several years ago and commissioned a new building with eye-catching gable roofs. BURO II & ARCHI+I designed a prominent building clad in brass-coloured sheets of steel. The new school is built on a plot measuring 1,525 square metres and is based on a patio model, to enhance safety and limit noise pollution for the surrounding residents. The façade and the roof are clad in sheets of brass-coloured lacquered steel. This metal colour establishes a link to the traditional crafts, while the shape of the roof alludes to the neighbourhood’s industrial past. From here, you can take tram line 81 to the Gare du Midi or bus line 46 to the Brussels city centre.
New farriery
Location: Rue des Matériaux, 67, 1070 Anderlecht
