Tondo - OFFICE

'Tondo' is a footbridge that connects two buildings of the Belgian Federal Parliament in the centre of Brussels. The bridge was explicitly designed as a spatial element, rather than a technical solution. Named after the tradition of the Renaissance tondi &mdasha circular work of art&mdash the bridge is shaped like a ring and suspended between the two buildings. A generous walk around an enclosed outer space is not simply a corridor, but also functions as a place of encounter. At the same time, the 'detour' entailed by its form allows for bridging the height difference of 90cm between the floors of the two buildings by means of a single, wheelchair accessible slope of 4%.