Triage-Lavoir de Péronnes, Coal washing facility in Péronnes-lez-Binche, Belgium

The Triage-Lavoir de Péronnes is a coal washing facility built as a large concrete structure with multiple levels connected by intricate stairways and supported by numerous concrete columns. The building displays the industrial engineering approach typical of post-war manufacturing plants.

Built in 1954 in reinforced concrete and inaugurated on 20 September, it centralised coal preparation for the collieries of Péronnes, Ressaix and Trivières, replacing scattered washing plants. It handled over 3,000 tons a day until 1969, when the closure of the Saint-Albert and Sint-Margriete mines ended its use after 15 years. Classified as a monument on 15 May 2003, it escaped demolition threatened in 2000.

This structure embodies Belgian industrial heritage and has been protected as a monument since 2003, reflecting its importance to the region's identity. Visitors today can see how coal mining once shaped daily life and the landscape of this area.

The building is fenced off and still partly unused, so it is seen from the street; the deep open passage beneath the front facade and the stepped roofline are visible from outside. Renovation began in September 2005, with the exterior scheduled for completion by September 2006 and work still ongoing in spring 2010.

The facility is planned to house an underground archive for royal collections and natural history materials, giving the industrial building an entirely new purpose. This transformation demonstrates how old manufacturing plants can be preserved for contemporary needs.