SCHILDKNECHT

Programme: A former industrial site redeveloped into a residential ensemble Our residential project on the Gustave Schildknecht street in Laeken aims to propose a context-relevant response to one of the widespread issues in today’s city making: the conversion of former industrial sites in densely built inner city blocks.

About: The most relevant redevelopment option therefore consisted in the demolition of the warehouse in order to build a new apartment building, surrounded by gardens and shared communal spaces allowing for a welcome respiration in the densely built urban block. With regards to its meaningfulness in the neighbourhood, the former director’s house is restored and integrated within the project. The project draws its inspiration from the historical « impasse » typology. Once infamous for their overcrowdedness, leading to the spreading of delinquency, illnesses and questionable mores, many historical impasses of Brussels have been demolished under the spearhead of public order, often to make place for large modern complexes such as stores, offices or parking facilities. The few that survived and were upgraded to current comfort expectations, are prized by their inhabitants for their quietness, their safety, their conviviality and the sense of community that they foster. Drawing on this predisposition of the typology for interaction and inclusiveness, the new building hosts a variety of apartment types that further encourages social mixity, amounting to a total of thirty-eight units. Two small professional spaces are also created on the groundfloor facing the street. The main volume stretches into the depth of the site. To its north, the new pedestrian « impasse » leads to the various entrances and connects all the communal spaces.