Article source: GRAUX & BAEYENS Architecten

STEP 1:

A narrow plot in combination with a very dens program (a home and a physiotherapist practice) resulted in a building that challenges the envelope of the planning regulations.

STEP 2:

To escape the limitations of de non-building area’s on the sides of the house, the  traditional dwelling-program is switched: the day-light functions ( kitchen, dining room, living room en terraces) are located on top of the night functions (bedrooms and bathrooms).

Image Courtesy Luc Roymans

• Architects: GRAUX & BAEYENS Architecten
• Project: House D-Z
• Location: Mullem, Belgium
• Client: family DZ
• Design: 2009-2010
• Interior design: 2010-2012
• Start construction: January 2011
• Software used: AutoCad

Image Courtesy Luc Roymans

• Finished: February 2012
• Site area: 810m²
• Built area: 263m²
• Photography: Luc Roymans
• Facade: Facade System on EPS insulation
• Construction: concrete and brick
• Windows: Aluminium

Image Courtesy Luc Roymans

STEP 3:

The monolithic volume of the house is chopped up into smaller entities. By shifting the entities, the direct sunlight enters the house and different relationships occur within the house and its surroundings.

The relationship with the surrounding plots has been optimized by the positioning of the windows. The right façade opens up to the green of the neighbors and the morning sun enters the living areas.

The front facade of the house remains shut to create privacy and to block out the sun at its highest point.

De south-west facade has windows that are positioned perpendicular to the neighbor. By positioning the windows like this, the sun is allowed to penetrate into the living areas while to visual relation with the neighbor is blocked

Image Courtesy Luc Roymans

Image Courtesy Luc Roymans

Image Courtesy Luc Roymans

Image Courtesy Luc Roymans

Image Courtesy Luc Roymans

Diagram

Plan

Section