On the rolling landscape of a former farmer’s field, today enclosed by suburban development, a new care and recreation centre for the elderly is taking form. The plan is articulated in such a way as to leave breathing space between the new building and the surrounding urban fabric while realizing the necessary programme for a community with a growing need for such facilities. Its form articulates and frames a new park, the façade analogous to a kind of populated garden wall. At the point where the building meets the public domain, it opens up formally and functionally, making a link between the world of the residents and the broader community – a place to meet, which is something the area doesn’t have at present. On a smaller scale, the residents’ windows are designed to be as inhabitable as possible – acting as a piece of furniture as well as offering a window onto the world.

• Location

  Beersel, Belgium

• Client

  QALY Development

• Construction

  2014 - 2016

• 51N4E project team

  Freek Persyn, Johan Anrys, Jan Opdekamp, Jan Haerens, Marta Petrov, Andri Haflidason

• 51N4E involvement

  Full Process

• Consultant

  Probis Consulting

• Structural engineer

  ALL-INgeneering

• Technical engineer

  Istema

• Acoustical engineer

  De Fonseca

• Landscape

  Land9, Aldrik Heirman

• Built surface

  10.880 m²

• Photography

  Filip Dujardin

• Image credits

  51N4E