A permit has been granted for the construction of a new panoramic lift at the Royal Library (KBR), announced Brussels Secretary of State for Urbanism and Heritage, Ans Persoons, on Thursday.
The lift will connect the main entrance of the KBR, located at Mont des Arts in Brussels, to the terrace on its roof.
The glass panoramic lift will be situated just behind an existing vertical window at the Gutenberg entrance and will extend slightly beyond the existing façade on the rooftop terrace.
An external lift was previously considered, but it was deemed too intrusive for the architectural view of Mont des Arts, which has been a listed site since 2022.
Ans Persoons (Vooruit) described the project as an important step in opening up the library’s hidden rooftop terrace, offering an unparalleled view of the capital.
"With the ongoing redevelopment of the Central Station area and the Marché au Bois district, the KBR lift aligns perfectly with the North-South junction revamp. We hope that eventually the KBR courtyard will provide a new direct passage to the Sablon," she added.
The lift will be designed by Jo Coenen Architects and Urbanists (JCAU), and the works, costing one million euros, will be funded by Beliris, the federal-Brussels cooperation body for construction, renovation, and heritage restoration projects.
