Duchesse Home / Notan Workplace

Duchesse Home / Notan Workplace

Textual content description offered by the architects. NOTAN OFFICE, a Brussels-based structure, and concrete design observe have demonstrated its experience in remodeling industrial courtyards into housing ensembles whereas preserving the essence of the place. The agency’s architectural technique entails reusing in-situ parts and structural elements, which helps them to create a powerful id that blends previous, current, and future. By sustaining the present DNA of the positioning, NOTAN OFFICE avoids disrupting the positioning’s historic significance, and their method promotes a way of continuity and respect for the positioning’s heritage. This system is extremely related for city improvement tasks, because it encourages a sustainable method to structure that values a location’s historical past and cultural heritage.

Microcity. The undertaking is inbuilt a dense space of Brussels, close to the canal, a traditionally industrial space. The sq. going through the plot is an energetic city pocket the place trams, markets, colleges, church buildings, and public actions meet. This combine was additionally very current within the given plot. On the sq., an previous townhouse from the late 1800s hides two lengthy industrial halls sharing a courtyard.

On this saturated context and by “digging” contained in the constructed mass of the plot, a housing ensemble is created with 3 multi-oriented volumes sharing a beneficiant widespread backyard.

The undertaking is an agglomeration of volumes and scales in a inexperienced space. A typical Brussels townhouse, its extension resembling a Roman spoil, a brick industrial façade, some rounded steps, some parts of the previous constructions, and the brand new tiled volumes; all with their non-public out of doors area overlooking the widespread backyard… From the general public sq., as quickly as the primary door opens, a easy transition between public, widespread, and personal, and the flowing between the constructed appears like strolling in a small village, a microcity.

On this thought of producing a small group, the bottom flooring is organized with packages that belong to everybody. The bicycle parking and a small atelier inside glass bricks are below the central quantity. Semi-private gardens and residing areas articulate the widespread space. On this shared floor flooring, all is fluid and clear, accentuating the ensemble’s sense of belonging.

Genius Loci. The undertaking respects the DNA of the place. Reworking an industrial website into housing shouldn’t kill its authentic id. A promotional undertaking on such a website shouldn’t rhyme with white-plastered facades and plastic home windows.

Big consideration was given to the supplies. For the out of doors in addition to for then the indoor, the materiality avoids any artifice. They’re proven as they’re and valued as ornaments. The concrete blocks haven’t any paint, the construction is proven and the undertaking composes with them. No half blocks, no half tiles; all match.

On high of that many parts are current on website earlier than the undertaking is reused, reinterpreted, and reorganized. Current doorways contained in the flats, the “porphire” tiles reorganized for the out of doors path, and the central constructing is partly supported by the previous concrete construction of the previous shed.

The brand new quantity’s form is inside the former shed’s outlines. Setbacks have been obligatory to enhance the residing high quality of every unit. This natural transformation of shapes generates peculiar spatial qualities that may solely belong to that particular place. The purple quantity is an enormous summary quantity standing on a clear floor stage. This robust id belongs to the economic language but additionally turns into tailored to housing on this surroundings.

The undertaking needs to delay the previous historical past and respect the “spirit of the place”, it went from trade to housing however remains to be in an industrial surroundings.

Inside. Each new volumes contained in the courtyard are towards the neighboring partitions. These partitions are “inflated” with a purpose to host all technical parts in addition to circulation, kitchens, bathrooms, and loos. Residing areas and bedrooms are subsequently pushed in direction of the façade and the sunshine.