丨比利时丨MADAM architectuur

Architects:MADAM architectuur

Area:240m²

Year:2022

Photographs:Olmo Peeters

Category:Houses,Renovation,Extension

Office Lead Architects:Door Smits, Marit Meganck

Design Team:MADAM architectuur

City:Dilbeek

Country:Belgium

Text description provided by the architects. Sofie is a house full of character, located in Dilbeek, Belgium, in a very green environment. The house needed to be completely renovated, but also partly extended. Many beautiful elements were present and carefully preserved: wooden floors, moldings, decorative wooden elements around windows and doors, and stairs. Above all, the existing volume was restored.

An extension was placed on the north side relative to the house, allowing east and west light to enter. That side also offers the best views of the fields in front and the green garden at the back.

A terrace was created to connect the existing house, extension, and different terraces, like a circular walkway around the house. The terrace is on the same level as the living spaces, giving the whole structure a floating feeling above ground level. To connect with the original architecture, a rounded arch was created between the old house and the new extension, a particularly complex intervention, as it required removing a corner of the house, which was tricky for stability.

Both the extension and the terrace are constructed of green pigmented polished concrete, so inside and outside literally flow into each other. In terms of materiality, the existing house remains very austere, true to its former condition. The extension was clad in glazed green tiles to create a captivating contrast between old and new. Inside, a fascinating interplay of smaller spaces results in cozy areas with their own character, different views, changing light, and unique atmospheres.

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