New social housing in Duras
Basic information
Project Title
New social housing in Duras
Full project title
Replacement of an old farmstead and construction of social housing units in Duras, Sint-Truiden
Category
Prioritising the places and people that need it the most
Project Description
This project presents the urban and architectural design proposal for an ambitious social housing site in Duras. It concerns a former farmstead that was partially demolished and converted into eight small ground-level houses. The proposal endorses the demand for the replacement of the old farmhouse and a new integrated vision, making space for high-quality housing in relation to the context and open space, in the long term.
Geographical Scope
Local
Project Region
Sint Truiden, Belgium
Urban or rural issues
It addresses urban-rural linkages
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
The implementation of new affordable housing projects is becoming one of the main architectural challenges in a territory like Flanders. In particular, small villages represent delicate cases in which each project needs to deal carefully with a multitude of conditions, from an architectural to a social point of view.
Therefore, the design proposal has three dimensions: the urban, the landscape and the architectural. Through their mutual interaction, they reinforce each other in their intentions and peculiarities. The result is a well-thought-out settlement that brings about a naturalness in resolving all partial aspects and concerns. The plan and resulting volumes can be read as a re-creation of the former west and south wing of the farmstead, with the foundation of the existing building becoming a landscape element that completes the figure.
As a residential form, we propose eight large ground-level houses with full private gardens. Placing the gardens on the convex side divides them, improving privacy.
The historical double address to the village and the field is restored: the residential yard as formal address, the garden path as informal.
Clearly defining the collective outdoor space creates a manageable landscape with a dual character.
In terms of mobility, we introduce a strong hierarchy by designating clear zones and opening them up with garden paths.
Therefore, the design proposal has three dimensions: the urban, the landscape and the architectural. Through their mutual interaction, they reinforce each other in their intentions and peculiarities. The result is a well-thought-out settlement that brings about a naturalness in resolving all partial aspects and concerns. The plan and resulting volumes can be read as a re-creation of the former west and south wing of the farmstead, with the foundation of the existing building becoming a landscape element that completes the figure.
As a residential form, we propose eight large ground-level houses with full private gardens. Placing the gardens on the convex side divides them, improving privacy.
The historical double address to the village and the field is restored: the residential yard as formal address, the garden path as informal.
Clearly defining the collective outdoor space creates a manageable landscape with a dual character.
In terms of mobility, we introduce a strong hierarchy by designating clear zones and opening them up with garden paths.
Key objectives for sustainability
From the wide range of interpretations that exist regarding 'sustainability', we develop a proposal tailored to the site: in terms of energetic sustainability, we draw heavily on collective renewable techniques and energy-neutral building (Vision 2050). An important quick-win is that the new building implantation is very receptive to the integration of a BEO field in combination with the excellent local soil (moist sandy loam), the logical and compact linking of dwellings, the large garden and the private form of ownership. In addition, we are betting on subsidisable solar panels, of which up to 4 panels per dwelling can be placed on the bicycle parking area, thus hidden from the street scene.
In terms of material sustainability, landscape is designed from re-used materials and the existing as-found condition. The reuse of the existing foundation walls, serves as a 'historical frame' for a wilder, biodiverse and low-maintenance third landscape. In consultation with the building owner or the city, a more recreational public or collective use can also be sought as a platform, bank or pavilion.
Ecological sustainability is highly relevant due to the proximity to nature and forest areas and the educational potential of visible biodiversity for the many resident children. Due to the closed facades, the overhanging roof and the nearby vegetation, the end walls are the perfect place for permanent nesting boxes (built-in bricks or in the shelter).
Spatial sustainability in the short term can be read as multiple use of space. The house is designed as a checkerboard of connected rooms with systematic depth dimensions. This allows us to guarantee optimal furnishability, with room for interpretation in allocating the rooms, allowing for residential forms such as care living.
In terms of material sustainability, landscape is designed from re-used materials and the existing as-found condition. The reuse of the existing foundation walls, serves as a 'historical frame' for a wilder, biodiverse and low-maintenance third landscape. In consultation with the building owner or the city, a more recreational public or collective use can also be sought as a platform, bank or pavilion.
Ecological sustainability is highly relevant due to the proximity to nature and forest areas and the educational potential of visible biodiversity for the many resident children. Due to the closed facades, the overhanging roof and the nearby vegetation, the end walls are the perfect place for permanent nesting boxes (built-in bricks or in the shelter).
Spatial sustainability in the short term can be read as multiple use of space. The house is designed as a checkerboard of connected rooms with systematic depth dimensions. This allows us to guarantee optimal furnishability, with room for interpretation in allocating the rooms, allowing for residential forms such as care living.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
The as-found condition of Duras and the former square farmstead testifies to a past as a productive agricultural village marked by historic farmsteads, modern (agricultural) businesses and subdivision villas. Since such village environments and especially their centres are always fragile to external image-determining factors, we deliberately opt for a local and village-like appearance. This is reminiscent of two clashing long-stretched farmsteads, or a reconstruction of the vanished south and west wings of the former square farmstead.
In the absence of a clear centre in Duras, we are already trying to bring urban hierarchy to the village centre with the residential yard. The supporting and reinforcing power of the architectural design plays an important role here. In particular, the roof becomes an overarching element that showcases unity in appearance. Therefore, it is essential to design the roof as a single autonomous element that follows its own logic yet is contextual.
In terms of façade material, we want to elaborate on the balancing act between autonomy and contextuality by working on the typical landscape of villages and farms that hang together like a patchwork of (terracotta) materials and colour shades. The choice is a budget-friendly red brick with white joints. At ground level, we opt for a low gable plinth - a historical and local feature - which can be executed in red-tinted concrete. A seating bench element is embedded in the facade plinth under the kitchen window, to further emphasise the key role of the living kitchen and the residential yard as a social and public intermediate space.
Structurally, the project is easy to read and follows the general plan logic. This allows for a simple and coordinated construction process. Together with a pragmatic choice of materials, the structural simplicity will ensure a positive budgetary balance.
In the absence of a clear centre in Duras, we are already trying to bring urban hierarchy to the village centre with the residential yard. The supporting and reinforcing power of the architectural design plays an important role here. In particular, the roof becomes an overarching element that showcases unity in appearance. Therefore, it is essential to design the roof as a single autonomous element that follows its own logic yet is contextual.
In terms of façade material, we want to elaborate on the balancing act between autonomy and contextuality by working on the typical landscape of villages and farms that hang together like a patchwork of (terracotta) materials and colour shades. The choice is a budget-friendly red brick with white joints. At ground level, we opt for a low gable plinth - a historical and local feature - which can be executed in red-tinted concrete. A seating bench element is embedded in the facade plinth under the kitchen window, to further emphasise the key role of the living kitchen and the residential yard as a social and public intermediate space.
Structurally, the project is easy to read and follows the general plan logic. This allows for a simple and coordinated construction process. Together with a pragmatic choice of materials, the structural simplicity will ensure a positive budgetary balance.
Key objectives for inclusion
Three different types of units are presented in the project. However, although different in size, they share the same layout logic, giving the inhabitants the possibility to adapt their living spaces according to their necessities. This makes it for a fully inclusive and future-proof social housing project.
Therefore, the principle shared by the three housing types assumes a duality between flexibility and constancy. These two principles reinforce each other's purpose because they are, on the one hand, about wide use and, on the other, about designing an intelligent shell. The elaboration is as follows: a clear and logical vertical stacking is delineated in plan in three organising bands. These bands comprise spaces that have similar depth dimensions within the residential quality (and regulations). The exception that confirms the rule is the stacking of a children's bedroom below the roof volume, where the roof limits it to the desired depth.
In this way, the potential use of the respective spaces is extended to other functions. The storage room on the other hand is treated as a full-fledged room with window, and can therefore be used as an extra bedroom, playroom… The many possible furniture layouts of a 'house of fixed rooms' offers the necessary flexibility and generosity to families at short notice.
The first consequence of efficient stacking is the strategic use of margins within social housing. Focusing on compact, wide halls increases usability and quality, and creates diagonal sight-lines. The second consequence is that in specific places, a choice can be made to 'thicken' a space. For example, in each house we provide a full-fledged space between the kitchen and the entrance hall that can be used as a breakfast nook, live-work area, study and more.
The third consequence that unfolds is the dynamic experience created in the orthogonal (ground) plan through diagonal views and overlaps. The dining, living and kitchen areas are together yet separate.
Therefore, the principle shared by the three housing types assumes a duality between flexibility and constancy. These two principles reinforce each other's purpose because they are, on the one hand, about wide use and, on the other, about designing an intelligent shell. The elaboration is as follows: a clear and logical vertical stacking is delineated in plan in three organising bands. These bands comprise spaces that have similar depth dimensions within the residential quality (and regulations). The exception that confirms the rule is the stacking of a children's bedroom below the roof volume, where the roof limits it to the desired depth.
In this way, the potential use of the respective spaces is extended to other functions. The storage room on the other hand is treated as a full-fledged room with window, and can therefore be used as an extra bedroom, playroom… The many possible furniture layouts of a 'house of fixed rooms' offers the necessary flexibility and generosity to families at short notice.
The first consequence of efficient stacking is the strategic use of margins within social housing. Focusing on compact, wide halls increases usability and quality, and creates diagonal sight-lines. The second consequence is that in specific places, a choice can be made to 'thicken' a space. For example, in each house we provide a full-fledged space between the kitchen and the entrance hall that can be used as a breakfast nook, live-work area, study and more.
The third consequence that unfolds is the dynamic experience created in the orthogonal (ground) plan through diagonal views and overlaps. The dining, living and kitchen areas are together yet separate.
How Citizens benefit
The relation between collective/private open spaces and housing units is such as to introduce an innovative character in the village, addressing the citizens. Both are logical in structure and typology and appropriately sized to the scale of the village. The collective potential of the residential site lies in the shared outdoor space, with the 'in-between space' both connecting and distancing each other and the neighbourhood. This allows for plenty of social and local integration of each resident.
This means working with national institutions such as social housing, while maintaining a site-specific and socially appropriate method of working.
This means working with national institutions such as social housing, while maintaining a site-specific and socially appropriate method of working.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
The innovative character of the project lies on focusing on a durable and future-proof model for affordable housing. Long-term spatial sustainability includes compact construction of a robust inert architecture that can accommodate social change through adaptability in strategic places. This vision translates into the obtained plan and section development. The master plan is also in line with this thinking, because by building more compactly we increase density but reduce the built-up footprint.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
The project results from the collaboration between architects Siebrent Willems and Federico Taverna, and was developed for the Meesterproef organised by the Flemish Bouwmeester, a competition for young architects. During the competition process we already had the chance to consult a range of professionals such as the architect Sarah Poot, who was the tutor following the process. Furthermore, we consulted a structural and technical engineering firms for additional support. Therefore, the project presents technical implementation already from the competition proposal.
Currently, the design is being worked out for the submission of the building permit. During this phase, we are collaborating with stability and technical engineers, with the urban department of the city, and most importantly the social housing institution VMSW. Furthermore, we are designing in dialogue with an execution office that will give us their technical support. Therefore, the project will result from the collaboration between many technical and social experts, each of them bringing their knowledge on the table in a shared design process.
Currently, the design is being worked out for the submission of the building permit. During this phase, we are collaborating with stability and technical engineers, with the urban department of the city, and most importantly the social housing institution VMSW. Furthermore, we are designing in dialogue with an execution office that will give us their technical support. Therefore, the project will result from the collaboration between many technical and social experts, each of them bringing their knowledge on the table in a shared design process.
Methodology used
The choice of replacing the existing farm was born out of an intensive period of design research. This showed that fully solving the energy, privacy and typology issues was not compatible with the demands and urban planning requirements for ground-level housing for larger families. The final conclusion was that simply redistributing the surfaces would only reduce the current housing quality and spaciousness in the current configuration.
Our renewed vision for the site focuses on making space for high-quality living and housing in relation to the context and open space, in the long term. Because building in a village and social design are both balancing exercises, we always start from the 'as-found' residential and living qualities of the site, Duras and the wider region in every design decision.
Our renewed vision for the site focuses on making space for high-quality living and housing in relation to the context and open space, in the long term. Because building in a village and social design are both balancing exercises, we always start from the 'as-found' residential and living qualities of the site, Duras and the wider region in every design decision.
How stakeholders are engaged
The different subjects and institutions involved in the project are:
The flemish Bouwmmester, who organised the social housing competition for young architects.
Wonen in Limburg, acting on a local level as the intermediary between the architects and the social housing institution.
The social housing institution VMSW that supervises and finances social housing initiatives in Belgium.
The urban department of the city of Sint-Truiden, who approves and organises social housing initiatives on a political level.
The flemish Bouwmmester, who organised the social housing competition for young architects.
Wonen in Limburg, acting on a local level as the intermediary between the architects and the social housing institution.
The social housing institution VMSW that supervises and finances social housing initiatives in Belgium.
The urban department of the city of Sint-Truiden, who approves and organises social housing initiatives on a political level.
Global challenges
The urge for affordable housing solutions in Flanders is becoming a pressing topic that involves a large territory of small rural villages.
The ambition of the project is to make a local shift towards collective uses within existing rural typologies. The site-specific approach of the project aims to bring the quality of collective dimensions that typically belong to cities into the countryside. In order to achieve such ambition, the focus on collective outdoor areas plays a major role.
The issues of inclusivity, adaptability and collectively, are challenges that are tackled at every scale of the project: from the shared gardens, to the shared facilities.
The ambition of the project is to make a local shift towards collective uses within existing rural typologies. The site-specific approach of the project aims to bring the quality of collective dimensions that typically belong to cities into the countryside. In order to achieve such ambition, the focus on collective outdoor areas plays a major role.
The issues of inclusivity, adaptability and collectively, are challenges that are tackled at every scale of the project: from the shared gardens, to the shared facilities.
Learning transferred to other parties
Besides the site-specific qualities of the design, a variety of aspects can be replicated and transferred to other sites. Most of all, focusing on a units layout that allows future transformations according to different needs and families size, guarantees a future-proof use of each unit.
Moreover, the units layout can be realised by using standard elements, and durable yet budget friendly materials. Another important approach that can be replicates is the accumulation of the units into a compact volume: this not only allows for a sustainable and durable construction, but limits the footprint of the building, thus allowing for green spaces with different degrees of collectivity/privacy.
Moreover, the units layout can be realised by using standard elements, and durable yet budget friendly materials. Another important approach that can be replicates is the accumulation of the units into a compact volume: this not only allows for a sustainable and durable construction, but limits the footprint of the building, thus allowing for green spaces with different degrees of collectivity/privacy.
Keywords
Affordable housing
Care
Long-term durability
Future-proof social housing
Urban transformation in rural villages
