Amid the redevelopment of a historic albeit neglected block in Antwerp, the project for six dwellings and a commercial space stands at the crossover between a public square and a more intimate urban courtyard, revitalizing two abandoned buildings. Through the creation of new volumes, the two contexts are each addressed in their own specificities while focusing on a densely organized programme combined with a richness in terms of spatiality and flexibility.

The listed sixteenth-century building facing the square has been restored to its most historical state, completed by a balanced yet distinctive pronunciation of new floors. Along the alley at the back, a new volume has been separated from the front building, enabling the insertion of an outside staircase that organizes the access to the apartments on both sides. The staircase thereby relates back to the open space of the urban courtyard, establishing relationships between inhabitants and encouraging interaction, all the way up to the front door of the apartments.

In the courtyard itself, a set of three dwellings has been folded between its neighbours to give the courtyard a multifaceted aspect. The intimacy of the public space is accentuated by mimicking its neighbour in terms of scale and tonality, thereby setting up an urban interior and framing the historical ‘Falconpoort’ as a centred entrance to the public inner courtyard. By offering large-scale entrances, the design of the dwellings aims to open up the private living environments to the public space so as to maximize the use and flexibility of the private area.

• Location

  Antwerp, Belgium

• Client

  AG Vespa

• In collaboration with

  ARAT architectuuratelier

• 51N4E project team

  Johan Anrys, Freek Persyn, Aline Neirynck, Annaïk Deceuninck, Rea Xhilliari, Olivier Cavens, Gerlinde Verhaeghe, Francesca Schaviolli

• 51N4E involvement

  Full Process

• Structural engineer

  Jan Van Aelst

• Technical engineer

  Mint

• Acoustical engineer

  Daidalos-Peutz

• EPB

  Wim Callaerts

• Construction

  Floré nv

• Safety coordination

  Abetec

• Construction costs

  € 1.510.530

• Programme

  Housing, public shop

• Site surface

  269 m²

• Built surface

  1232,68 m²

• Image credits

  51N4E