The ZIN in Brussels wins the International High-Rise Award 2026/27

ZIN marks a fundamental transformation in Brussels’ North Quarter and serves as a prime example of how existing structures are incorporated into contemporary high-rise construction. The building transforms the former World Trade Center towers, WTC I and II, into a forward-looking, mixed-use urban block.

In the 1960s, the so-called “Manhattan Plan” launched a major urban development project aimed at creating a business district with skyscrapers, offices, and wide thoroughfares. The World Trade Center was to be built at a central intersection—a cluster of skyscrapers standing in pairs at each corner. Since a large portion of the planned development did not materialize initially, the area lay fallow for years. Today, however, the district still defines the Brussels skyline.

Befimmo, the owner of the towers, launched an open design competition in collaboration with the Bouwmeester Maitre Architecte (BMA, Brussels City Architect). 51N4E and l’AUC won the competition with their concept. Jaspers-Eyers was brought on board as a third partner for the further development and execution of the project.

Instead of completely demolishing the existing high-rises, the two circulation cores and the five basement levels were preserved and incorporated into the new structure. A slab inserted between the two cores now connects the two high-rises into a single structure. The slab requires no separate access and features double-height floors. While this does not significantly increase the square meterage, it does create significantly more volume and, consequently, more possibilities. The flexible floor plans, which span every other floor, can be adapted to a wide range of potential uses.

The floors that are not connected to the slab are independent and can be used as needed. The project team calls this alternating arrangement “Zebra.” Today, the eastern tower alternates between office space and a hotel, while the western tower houses offices and apartments. This mix of uses creates a building that is not only bustling during office hours but remains an integral part of urban life around the clock.

Best High-Rises 2026/27

30 outstanding projects from 12 countries and five continents were nominated for the International High-Rise Award 2026/27:

130 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia
COX Architecture, Melbourne, Australia

270 Park Avenue, New York NY, USA
Foster + Partners, London, UK

443 Queen St
Brisbane, Australia
WOHA, Singapore; Architectus, Brisbane, Australia

660 Fifth Avenue, New York NY, USA
Kohn Pedersen Fox, New York NY, USA

CITIC International Building, Shenzhen, China
gmp · von Gerkan, Marg und Partner Architects, Berlin, Germany

Europa-Allee-Tower, Frankfurt / Main, Germany
cma cyrus moser architekten, Frankfurt / Main, Germany

EZ Parque da Cidade, São Paulo, Brazil
UNS, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Greenland Hangzhou Century Center, Hangzhou, China
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Chicago IL, USA

HD Hyundai Global R&D Center, Sungnam, South Korea
NIKKEN SEKKEI, Tokyo, Japan; Heerim Architects & Planners, Seoul, South Korea

Hetao Innovation Center, Shenzhen, China
schneider + schumacher, Frankfurt / Main, Germany

Huergo 475 Tower, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Adamo-Faiden, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Indi Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Bates Smart, Sydney, Australia

Irwell Hill Residences, Singapore
MVRDV, Rotterdam, Netherlands; ADDP architects, Singapore

JOMOO Headquarters, Xiamen, China
OMA Office for Metropolitan Architecture, Hong Kong, China

Merdeka 118, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
FK Architects, Southbank, Australia

One Madison Avenue, New York NY, USA
Kohn Pedersen Fox, New York NY, USA

One Sydney Harbour, Sydney, Australia
Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Genoa, Italy; Lend Lease Design, Sydney, Australia; PTW Architects, Sydney, Australia

Sany IROOTECH Headquarters, Guangzhou, China
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Chicago Il, USA

Shenzhen Transsion Holdings Headquarters, Shenzhen, China
Aedas, Hong Kong, China

The Axiom, Shanghai, China
Büro Ole Scheeren, Berlin, Germany

The Brook, Brooklyn NY, USA
Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners, New York NY, USA

The Brooklyn Tower, Brooklyn NY, USA
SHoP Architects, New York NY, USA

Vienna Twentytwo, Vienna, Austria
DMAA Delugan Meissl Associated Architects, Vienna, Austria

vivo Smartphone Headquarters, Shenzhen, China
NBBJ Los Angeles CA, USA

Wasl Tower, Dubai, UAE
UNS, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Finalists International High-Rise 2026/27

88 Walker, Sydney, Australia
Fitzpatrick + Partners, Sydney, Australia

AGE 360, Curitiba, Brazil
Triptyque, São Paulo, Brazil/Paris, France & Architects Office, São Paulo, Brazil

One Pearl Bank, Singapore
Serie Architects, London, UK & Multiply Architects, Singapore

Tencent Tower, Guangzhou, China
Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Paris, France

Since 2004, the International High-Rise Award has been held every two years jointly by the City of Frankfurt, Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM), and DekaBank and conferred on a high-rise selected by the jury from a long list of international nominees.