AN ARCHETYPAL “FLEMISH WIDE-HOUSE” IN THE CENTER OF ENAME, BELGIUM,  NEXT TO THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF THE ST SALVATOR’S ABBEY, IS THE SETTING FOR THIS REFURBISHMENT. THE PROPERTY HOSTS A PSYCHOTHERAPY CENTER AND A DWELLING. BOTH CLAIM A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GARDEN. THIS STALEMATE IS LIFTED BY INTRODUCING A CONCRETE CANOPY IN THE GARDEN ATTACHED…

FOR THE NEW OFFICES THE ARCHITECTS DELIBERATELY HAVE CHOSEN TO BUILD A PASSIVE CONSTRUCTION, MAINLY FROM THE INTEREST AND CURIOSITY TO DEVELOP A SUSTAINABLE PROJECT. THIS PROJECT IS REALIZED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE EXISTING SHED, BOX-IN-A-BOX. THE SHED (400M²) IS CHARACTERIZED BY A STEEL STRUCTURE AND BRICK WALLS. ONLY HALF OF THE SHED IS…

PASTORAL MEMORIES, REVISITED THE OPPOSITION BETWEEN CITIES AND COUNTRYSIDE IN FLANDERS HAS INCREASINGLY BECOME A MENTAL RATHER THAN A PHYSICAL ONE. A LONG-STANDING ANTI-URBAN POLICY HAS LED TO A THOROUGH CONTAMINATION –I.E. URBANIZATION – OF THE FLEMISH COUNTRYSIDE. MULTIPLE NETWORKS CONNECT LOCATIONS IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR URBAN OR RURAL STATUS, ENABLING EVER MORE FREQUENT MOVEMENTS, ERODING PHYSICAL BOUNDARIES, MERGING IT…

THE AUDITORIUM IS PART OF A MEETING CENTRE THAT IS SITUATED ON THE SITE OF THE GENERAL HOSPITAL OF AZ GROENINGE IN KORTRIJK, BELGIUM.  THE HOSPITAL ITSELF AND ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS DESIGNED ON A STRICT CARTESIAN GRID.  COMPARED TO THE HOSPITAL THE AUDITORIUM IS ONLY A TINY BUILDING, IT IS LOCATED IN A…

THE QUALITY OF THE EXISTING DWELLING CONSISTS NOT ONLY OF THE BUILDING ITSELF, BUT ALSO OF THE SURROUNDINGS AND ORIENTATION.  ON RENOVATING THE EXISTING BUILDING THE ARCHITECTS WORKED WITH LOCAL MATERIALS TO STAY AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO THE ORIGINAL DESIGN.  LOGICALLY THE MAIN LIVING ROOM WAS RELOCATED IN AN EXTENSION ORIENTED ON THE BEAUTIFUL…

THE HOUSE IS BUILT ALONG A COUNTRY ROAD BETWEEN TWO VILLAGE CHURCHES. THE LOT IS WIDE AND DEEP, SLOPING TO THE STREET. THE QUESTION OF HOW A RURAL HOUSE SHOULD LOOK LIKE TODAY WAS INEVITABLE. WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT HERE IS A SMALL FARM , PARALLEL TO THE STREET , AND A BARN BEHIND .…