About Hi! Site

A few years ago, anyone driving past here would have been treated to the smell of freshly roasted coffee. In late 2017, the factory closed its doors, bringing the coffee roasting to an end. Shortly afterwards, real estate developer Global Estate Group bought the 6.5-hectare site.

Teaming up with partners Laura Muyldermans, Operating Collective, Pièce Montée, Plus Office Architects, Kwin & Plant and Houtgoed, they accepted the challenge to give this site a new, sustainable and functional purpose.
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Multi-purpose

While the site was formerly used by just one company, Hi! is now a multifunctional, inclusive place, where numerous productive, creative and recreational activities flow together, optimising the use of the available space and facilities throughout the day.

On the site, you’ll find the versatile Den Douwe hall, operated by the municipality of Grimbergen. Arenal has settled on the site with a trampoline park and padel courts. Pink Peaks operates a climbing wall.

The former storage depots have been divided and made ready for use as warehousing or storage space. Among others, Hello Fresh and Rose Mary have already found a new home here.

Finally, we are actively converting the former production tower into a stacked SME hall with production workshops for small-scale companies.

An inspiring place where teams come together

The office building, which covers approximately 12,000 m², is also being repurposed. This location provides space for both small and large groups to collaborate in 'real life' and to promote company culture. This is achieved by using offices with shared spaces, and facilities for events and sports.

“Hi! is functional, no-nonsense, accessible, affordable and flexible.”

A climate-resilient business park

Rather than demolishing the old buildings, we chose to convert them, using as much of the existing structures and materials as possible in a circular manner and giving them a new purpose. For example, much of the material in the office building was retained and recycled. The scenography is an addition to the existing structure, while the renovations make the building ready for the future. We have installed solar panels on the roof and fast-charging stations in the car park.

However, we have chosen to do some demolition: since the site was previously one large concrete surface, it is crucial to remove paving and add vegetation. We are using native plants. In front of the office building, a quiet wood will be created, and the area adjacent to the Landbeek will be reintroduced as part of the side valley. In this way, we contribute to a climate-resilient landscape. For the SME units, we are opting for stacked units instead of side-by-side units to provide ample space for greenery here as well.

Sustainable mobility is also a key focus in the master plan, with a fast-charging station for electric cars, among other features.

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Upcycling on the Hi! Site: from server cabinet to coffee machine and much more

From a server cabinet to a coffee machine? A filing cabinet to a sofa? Old furniture into a work of art? These are just a few examples of how we upcycle on the Hi! Site. As a multifunctional place, our pieces of furniture are used in various ways, offering flexible options for both events and offices.

We furnish our offices with new creations of existing, classic office furniture. Everything can be dismantled and reusable: together we will build your office tailored to your needs. Are you joining our (circular) story?

Upcycling at the Hi! Site: from server cabinet to coffee machine and much more

A server cabinet converted into a coffee machine? An archive cupboard turned into a bench? Old furniture pieces transformed into works of art? These are just a few examples of how we practise upcycling at the Hi! Site. As a multifunctional space, our furniture is used in various ways, providing flexible options for both events and offices.

We equip our offices with new creations from existing, classic office furniture. Everything is reusable and can be dismantled: we build your office tailored to your needs. Keen to join us in our (circular) story?