Lorenzo Walnut medium brown in The Marnix

What do you do with an architectural icon from the 1960s? Replace it? Or bring it back to life, adapted to today’s needs? ING clearly chose the latter. With the renovation of its Brussels headquarters, The Marnix, it delivered one of the most ambitious refurbishment projects in the country. Over five years, architects, engineers and technical specialists worked on a thorough transformation of the building. And along the way, our Lorenzo Walnut medium brown played its part.

Location: Brussels
Country: Belgium
Architects: A2M, Moreno
Installers: Gielissen, Beddeleem, Potteau, Louis De Waele
Photographer: Anaïs Callens

Lorenzo walnut brown in renovation of The Marnix

A visionary building from the 1960s

The Marnix was originally designed by American architect Gordon Bunshaft. At the time, it stood out in Brussels as an exceptionally modern building. Sleek, elegant, with interiors finished down to the finest detail. That architectural value remained the guiding principle throughout the renovation.

“It was a great opportunity to work on this building and contribute to its rebirth,” says Dorothée Peeters, interior architect and project manager at A2M. “Bunshaft designed interiors that were elegant, understated and timeless. That’s exactly the approach we wanted to continue in the renovation.”

A fully-fledged alternative to veneer

The original Marnix interiors made extensive use of travertine and wood veneer. The architects were looking for a solution that would offer the same look, but with greater robustness and a more controlled budget. That led them to our Lorenzo Walnut medium brown.

For us, this was no small task. “Replacing a high-end product like veneer, especially at this scale, with a true alternative is never straightforward,” says Robin Van Asbroeck, Country Manager Specification Benelux at Unilin Panels. “That’s why we worked closely with the architects to ensure the colour and appearance aligned perfectly with their vision.”

The design immediately stood out because of its realistic wood look. The warm tones, the lighter nuances and the subtle texture come very close to natural timber. When we tested both materials across larger surfaces, the client ultimately chose the look of the Unilin material.”

Dorothée PeetersInterior architect and project manager at A2M

Lorenzo Walnut throughout the interior

The chosen design was given a prominent place throughout the interior of The Marnix. In total, we supplied around 7,000 m² of panel materials, now used across a wide range of custom furniture - from desks and lockers to wall units and doors.“We even brought a full HPL roll to a site meeting,” says Van Asbroeck. “It’s only when you see a material at full scale that you really understand how it works in a space. Both the architects and the client were genuinely surprised by the result.”

Alongside aesthetics, performance also played a key role. For the BREEAM certification, we provided EPDs, and our materials contributed to the project’s sustainability targets. The effort paid off: the renovation achieved a BREEAM Outstanding certification and reduced the building’s carbon emissions from around 2,700 kg to approximately 600 kg.

We even brought a full HPL roll to a site meeting. It’s only when you see a material at full scale that you really understand how it works in a space. Both the architects and the client were genuinely surprised by the result.”

Robin Van AsbroeckCountry Manager Specification Benelux at Unilin Panels

A workplace people enjoy

Today, around 5,500 people work in The Marnix. According to ING, user feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

“The reactions from users are what make us most proud,” concludes Dorothée Peeters. “Thousands of people come here to work every day and feel comfortable in the building. In the end, that’s what it’s all about.”