Renovation of a house 

Description: Renovation and extension of a single house
Type of project: House
Type of customer: Private
Department: Transformation and renovation
Location: Schaerbeek, Brussels (BE)
Surface area: 309m²
Year: 2013-2014

At a few meters from the project Ruche I, the existing home dating from the 20s, is a standard neo-classical Brussels attached construction with a large dimension. The existing extensions are too narrow, making the access to the garden difficult and presenting some major structural defects. Rethinking the volume of the extensions in order to make them compatible with the main body and ensure integrated relation with the garden are the main lines of reflection. The existing volume was opened laterally and connected to a new construction of a two-story shape, connected with a newly enlarged kitchen and spread on two levels one dedicated to the kitchen and one dedicated to the children. Playing with light and shade, the whole project expands itself outside through a concrete terrace terminated by a long gardening box.

Extension of a villa

Description: Transformation and extension of a single house 
Type of project: House
Type of customer: Private
Department: Extension and renovation
Location: Auderghem, Brussels (BE)
Surface area: 323 m²
Year: 2009-2011

The district of “Chant d’Oiseau” is a residential area of the 3rd Brussels ring created in the 1930s. Several architectural elements of the villa with sober but colorful features, typical of the district and the period of its construction deserved to be brought out. At the forefront of the garden and with a lack of access and relation with it, the house appeared to have been placed there haphazardly. So the main idea was to ensure continuity with the building environment and to enhance its intrinsic qualities. The project proposed to create a real link between the existing building and the garden; a significant simplification of plans and spaces, visually unifying the new and existing parts and harmonizing old and contemporary expressions. The kitchen furniture extended the movement to became the facade. Taking advantage of differences in levels, the furniture could be arranged in many different ways.

Cottage house in the Netherlands 

Description: Renovation of a cottage house 
Type of project: Private
Type of customer: Private
Location: Oostburg, Zeeland (NL)
Surface: 190 m²
Year: 2012-2013

The building is located within the Zeeland region. This area of the Netherlands is characterized by flat landscapes composed by rural land and water areas. The existing detached house resulted from the merge of 3 fishermen’s cottages overlooking a large garden in the middle of fields. The main intervention was to unlock and solve the problem of different ground levels resulting from the combination of cottages while increasing the relationship of the living room with its environment. Moving the main entrance to the rear in the garden has helped bringing together the bedrooms towards the former entrance hall. The living room could then be released from the more private areas and become a landscape area. The rear façade was largely opened towards the sunset and is offering a panoramic view of 180° from the house. The beams were left raw to remind graphically the rectilinear surrounding fields.

Renovation of a house

Description: Renovation and extension of a single house 
Type of project: House
Type of customer: Private
Department: Extension and renovation
Location: Watermael-Boitsfort, Brussels (BE)
Surface area: 268 m²
Year: 2012-2014

The building is situated near Keym square, as a transition between the more urban development of Watermael-Boitsfort and more open areas resulting from the legacy of the garden city model. The existing attached house dating from the 30s is part of a group of 8 houses R+1+T built along a side road. It is organized according to the bel étage Brussels model with an semi-buried basement resulting in a difference of level with the garden. The project consisted of improving the relation between the house and the garden through a spatial planning of the basement and living room areas in connection with the garden. The first floor (bel étage floor) was completely opened and extended outside. The opening of the existing staircase has helped to bring light into the whole house. It is complemented by a new staircase leading to the basement where an en-suite parental bedroom was installed.