Building & venue hire

In 2010, the Brussels Capital Region and the City of Brussels established MAD Brussels, the city’s showcase for its local fashion designers and other creatives. The V+ firm of architects and ROTOR won the competition for the renovation of a number of industrial buildings in which to house the MAD offices and showrooms.

There is something surprisingly fresh about their project, as a result of the tolerance shown towards the existing buildings and materials during the renovation. The old structures were retained, faults and all, and the demolition was executed with surgical precision. As a result, the conglomeration of inadequate and sometimes badly designed buildings that had accumulated organically over the last sixty years was transformed into a new whole, with no distinction between old and new. The occasionally wretched quality of the existing architecture provided the focus for a spatial sequence: a smaller doubleheight space, a broad, lower space with a through-view, a central double-height space with mezzanine, and a succession of large spaces. The existing spatial quality is further accentuated by using as many white (or near-white) materials for the interior finishing. In this way, the spaces play on and question the codes of the white cube, without lapsing into the pure and white atmosphere of the museum that is typically associated with this type of programme. It is multiple shades of whiteness that lends each space its own character and forges disparate elements into a single entity.

We love sharing our building with young creatives. Therefore, it is possible to use the MAD building for a photo or video shoot for free. Looking for a shoot location? Do you meet these conditions? Contact us and we will look at the possibilities together with you.

• Your photo shoot or video recording is linked to the fashion and/or design sector
• You are a photographer or designer based in Brussels
• You want to promote your own work and talent 
• You work independently and not on behalf of a company with a commercial goal. 

Please send an e-mail to rent@mad.brussels with the following information:

• The date and hours on which you would like to hold the shoot at MAD.  We will prioritize our own programming and will let you know if your requested day is possible. Therefore, please already provide us with several days.
• Shoots are only possible from Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm.  Public holidays during the week are not possible.
• The space at MAD you would like to use (White box - The Loft - The Terrace - Expo space). You can find pictures of the spaces at the bottom of this page.
• The number and names of the people who will be present during the shoot.
• Tell us what the purpose of your shoot is. 

MAD does not provide any photography equipment, lighting or other material. All necessary equipment must be provided by the photographer. The buildings and furniture of MAD must be treated in good condition during the shoot. You will sign a convention before the start of the shoot committing to this.