From staid and bureaucratic, to cool and happening. It’s an audacious transformation which The Standard hotel chain, known for its retro-inspired style and distinctive cultural aura, has instigated for Brussels with the opening of its second European outpost. Situated only a stone’s throw away from the Station Noord railway hub, The Standard Brussels occupies a fully transformed high-rise building from the 1960s which previously was home to the city’s World Trade Centre. The property features 200 guest rooms, suites, and also apartments spread across no less than 28 floors, and interestingly, still mixed and matched with offices, and forms part of the so-called ZIN urban redevelopment plan which aims to revive the rather bland Noordwijk business district with new offices, residences, the upcoming KANAL Centre Pompidou modern art museum, retail, and The Standard‘s inimitable hospitality format.
The interior design is a collaborative effort of Belgian practices Jaspers-Eyers Architects and Bernard Dubois Architects, and takes cues from post-war modernism, but captured by rich, warm colours and materials. Before entering the lobby, guests and visitors traverse a lush roofed garden. Once inside, a stylish lounge setting unfolds, featuring a backdrop of soaring, lacquered timber arches, comfy seating areas, and on either side of the reception desk in adjacent spaces, two alluring places where to sit back and relax or mingle. The Lobby Bar is open 24/7, and serves drinks and snacks in a Mid-century modern setting. On the other side, the bistro-style Double Standard readily awaits those in need of culinary pampering with a cheeky mash-up of American comfort food and Belgian classics, all paired with a top-notch beer list. And that’s not all. Perched on the 29th floor is Lila29, a restaurant serving a menu of Iberian flavours and matching cocktails.
Here, the setting is lavish and a tad sensual, featuring curved shapes, abundant draping, and a rich palette of earth tones. Mind you, the place comes with a large outdoor terrace and double-height windows which allow sweeping views of the city. Ah yes, and the rooms! Needless to say, all meet today’s savvy traveller’s requirements, offering top comfort, plenty of amenities, and similarly to The Standard Brussels‘ public spaces, cool style. The rooms feature comfy beds with quality linens, rainfall showers and/or soaking, Davines bath amenities, custom robes, a minibar, and obviously, free WiFi. On top of that, guests have free access to the gym. An urge to splurge? At 74 sqm. (796 sq.ft.), the Deluxe One Bedroom Suites are apartment-style lodgings, featuring a separate living space and a full wall of windows. The suite comes with a king bed with fluffy down pillows and fancy sheets, in addition to dining and lounging areas, and a fitted-out kitchenette with a stove and fridge. © superfuture
The Standard Brussels
Koning Albert II Laan 30 (Noordwijk)
1000 Brussels
Telephone +32 2 7907100
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