A terraced house in the Waterwijk, where heritage and modernity converge.
The plot presents a challenge: extremely limited space and fully enclosed. A smart layout, a progressive construction method (solid wood construction), and a thoughtful double façade ensure livability, emotion, and hyper-efficiency.

The bold glass-tiled façade is surprisingly harmonious. It speaks the language of a typical terraced house: brick-laid in stretcher bond and framed with window moldings that reference the stepped-gable house from 1707 further down the street.

Bedrooms below, living spaces and the soul of the house above.
A rooftop terrace crowns the building. The interior breathes simplicity and purity by exclusively using honest and sustainable materials: visible white-stained solid wood walls and natural terracotta floors.

The house is situated on a very challenging plot: very small and entirely enclosed. The challenge was to maximize the minimal available space and natural light as much as possible.

In consultation with the heritage preservation authorities, it was determined that (partly due to the limited heritage value of the existing building) new construction was appropriate to increase the living potential. And that it should form a contemporary yet fitting addition to this historic part of the city. It became a project of give and take: a building that stands out, yet eagerly wants to integrate into its surroundings.

The house opens up towards the top: the lower floors house the bedrooms, and the upper floors contain the living spaces. This structure is visible in the façade: closed at the bottom with terracotta tiles, and open at the top with glass tiles. Through the double façade principle, the compact house achieves maximum natural light without compromising privacy, while also being hyper-efficient.

Here, past and future come together.
The project optimizes the living potential of this very complex location through its structure, layout, and thoughtful relationship with its surroundings.

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^CREDITS

Status: 2023-2025
Team: Seger Delmulle, Natan Van Laethem
Stabiliteit: DE CLERCQ, Pieter-Jan De Clercq
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