SCHOONEJANS

juillet, 2017

SCHOONEJANS

Renovation of a house

Description: Renovation of a single house
Type of project: House
Type of customer: Private
Department: Renovation
Location: Auderghem, Brussels (BE)
Surface area: 196 m²
Year: 2011-2013

Near to the “Rouge-cloître”, only a few hundred metres from the Hermann Debroux viaduct and its office buildings, close to one of the most important entries in Brussels, the plot was the only left development site of the street. The site is surrounded by two different building types: 30’s detached family houses in a classical style and other small apartment blocks of 2 to 3 floors. The owner wanted a quick cheap construction, functional and efficient, with a particular feature that it could be used in two ways: a detached house with 4 bedrooms or a two floor apartment plus an independent studio. To meet the criteria of cost and time we opted for a precast solution. Taking into consideration also the environmental criterion, we decide to use solid wood panels covered by insulation outside and left raw inside. In order to reduce the aspect of a wood, and to twist the classical pattern gazed wooden floor, the soil has been painted with a white epoxy resin. Wide openings were introduced in the monochromatic street façade which was enhanced by a touch of colour to make reference to the modernists projects of the 50’s in Brussels.

MEENEN

juillet, 2017

MEENEN

Renovation and extension of an apartment

Description: Renovation and extension of an appartement into a duplex
Type of project: Housing
Type of customer: Private
Department: Transformation and renovation
Location: Saint-Gilles, Brussels (BE)
Surface area: 309m²
Year: 2011-2013

Halfway between the Saint-Gilles barrier and the prison, the Mauritius van Meenen square is characterized by high and wealthy buildings trying to compete with the massive town hall with its highly elaborated features. Located on the ground floor of a Brussels typical building renovated in the 90s, the apartment was already relatively modern and attractive. However, the idea was to extend it in order to add 3 rooms to the existing space. In close contact with the outside, the extension, entirely glazed on the ground floor, fits completely into the garden / terrace that can be accessed from the living room by a gateway. This gateway is overhanging a landscaping arrangement that gives light to the 3d sleeping room located in the basement. All spaces (as well as the bathroom placed at the centre of traditional 3 adjoining rooms) are facing the natural light, responding in this way to the main challenge of apartments located on the ground floor and basement.