丨AIDarchitecten

Brewery Site Meer

Restoring the fine grain of the village fabric is the foundation of the design.

The built edge along Meerseweg is completed and folded inward, creating a framed view towards the landscape beyond.

De Brouwerij

, positioned as a solitary volume on the corner, marks a special moment in the streetscape and, in its architectural expression, refers to the artisanal activity that once took place here.

With space for ground-level homes at the rear of the site, a balanced mix of younger and older residents can find a place to live here.

Fitting in subtly and creating a sense of home are the ambitions of this project. Through small gestures, it seeks an architecture that feels right for the village.

The use of a local brick and the continuation of the adjoining cornice height give the street frontage something familiar. Brickwork details and a distinctive bay window add a contemporary note.

Set further back, the entrance makes the moment of arriving home more personal and invites casual conversations with neighbours.

De Brouwerij

takes this a step further. Behind the front door lies a generous hall: cobblestone flooring, a concrete staircase and abundant top light create an in-between indoor-outdoor space that connects residents across floors — a spatial nod to a brewery hall. The ground-floor sitting area with fireplace invites you to take a moment: check your post, read the paper, or simply chat about the day’s events. In December, a giant Christmas tree stands here.

The variety of layouts, sizes and orientations — with either a terrace or winter garden — ensures living quality for every preference.

While ground-floor living reinforces the village character, the commercial functions along the street, in the plinth of

De Brouwerij

, contribute to the economic vitality of the village.

With its focus on communal living and village-making, this project aims — in a modest yet considered way — to integrate multi-family living in Meer with elegance.

Location: Meer

Year: 2015

Photography: Emma Van Zundert / Zeger Dox