Article source: Atelier Tom Vanhee

The former farmhouse is situated in an agricultural area east of the village of Aartrijke, Belgium. The typology of the existing building will be used in a contemporary way to enlarge the dwelling. There will be two new volumes with a pitched roof slide against the existing volume. Two chimney shaped skylights will create light and a view on to the first floor. A third chimney will house the air outlet of the heat pump. Old and new collaborate together, but both will remain visible. The new volumes will be finished in wood. The old brick exterior will be felt inside when entering the house. The new stairs will be a reminder of the old mouldering stair that was removed. The buttresses and strips of brick in the floor show the former layout of the barn. The double height in the dwelling will make the living areas more spacious. A new preweathered zinc roof will connect the buildings into a whole. In addition to the replacement of the old joinery with new windows, the old volume will open up to the landscape on the rear side. The construction will be characterized by simple uniform windows according to the golden ratio.

Image Courtesy © Filip Dujardin

• Architects: Atelier Tom Vanhee
• Project: House Aartrijke – Transformation of a farmhouse to a low energy house
• Location: Biesbeekstraat 3, Aartrijke, 8211  Zedelgem, Belgium
• Photography: Filip Dujardin
• Study Stability: LIME (Less Is More Engineering), Ghent
• Gross Floor Area: 318 m²
• Design: 2012 – 2013
• Execution: 2014 – 2016

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