Van Hoegaerde

The original building exhibited a number of established construction qualities: its facing brickwork and architectural concrete were well preserved, while its compactness suggested relatively good structural and thermal performance. However, its location on a narrow plot confined the majority of residents to outdated layouts, with no genuinely usable outdoor spaces.

The specifications called for a two-stage renovation: 2/3 of the budget was to be allocated to renovating the flats and communal areas, with the remaining 1/3 devoted to a traditional external building envelope. We proposed the opposite strategy: limiting the interior intervention to a refresh and allocating the majority of the budget to timber extensions in order to improve a broader range of aspects of the building: social, regulatory, spatial, and cultural.

An innovative and rational solution

By extending the façades as far as possible, pushing against the boundaries of the plot, and thereby ‘expanding’ the interior spaces, we were able to enhance the building’s existing qualities. This expansion allows most of the existing layouts to be retained, whilst enlarging, in turn, the living rooms, kitchens or bedrooms, depending on the specific layout under consideration. Set within these new facades, between the living spaces, are spacious loggias, providing every flat with access to an outdoor space. Finally, the redevelopment of the surrounding areas creates new opportunities for the use and enjoyment of the residential complex’s gardens.