dhooge & meganck installs wooden 'house of silence' within renovated church in belgium

reconversion of the holy church of lampernisse, belgium

architecture firm dhooge & meganck was commissioned to complete a number of renovations in and around the church of the exaltation of the cross in lampernisse, belgium. the project involves the conversion of the structure into a new columbarium accompanied by a multi-purpose community space, a cemetery, and a garden. the transformation adopts a radical character in an attempt to breathe new life into the church that is hardly used for local worship anymore. 

images by annabelle stampaert, unless stated otherwise

a harmonious environment with different atmospheres

the refurbishment by dhooge & meganck (find more here) converts the pre-existing church into a columbarium, while also generating a multipurpose room for intimate ceremonies and temporary exhibitions. in addition, the structure houses all necessary facilities (kitchen, sanitary facilities, technical room, etc.), and includes the landscaping of the immediate vicinity of the church. this open exterior space takes shape as a scenic rest area with an urn garden that’s fully adapted to the existing cemetery. 

the architects have completed a series of surgical interventions to achieve a harmonious and flexible environment. their proposal is very clear and preserves the spatial whole of the church. by introducing a new volume called the house of silence, visitors can now enjoy a private room within the spacious church hall. by following this room within a room logic, the architects have turned the existing church into a covered outdoor space, rather than an interior space. in this way, the renovation preserves the entire original structure but creates explicitly different ‘atmospheres’ at the same time.

the house of silence 

seeking to generate a silent, private area in the common hall of the church, the renovation installs a wooden tunnel-shaped volume within the interior. dubbed the house of silence, this newly introduced structure features a perforated shell that leaves the relationship with the church filtered and intact while still providing (acoustic) intimacy.

through this intervention, the church itself becomes a semi-outdoor space closely connected to the surrounding garden and the introduction of a new volume. this house of silence is a highly intimate space, clearly delineated, structurally sustainable, perfectly insulated, and has a strong acoustic performance. this makes it also suitable for intimate farewell ceremonies, lectures, small performances, etc.

image by johnny umans

the columbarium: ‘where trees carry people’

contrary to many columbaria that are often gloomy and unpleasant, the church is redesigned as a comfortable, well-lit environment, a place for intimacy, reflection, and serenity. to safeguard the integrity of the church and make the best use out of the house of silence, the designers have installed a column grid system throughout the pre-existing building.

the system uses wooden columns, constructed from a stack of three-dimensional cross-shaped elements, which serve as the carriers of the urns. these columns refer to the surrounding landscape where the same repetitive, vertical sequence of trees can be observed. following the concept of an open landscape, the columbarium is formed as a spatial whole in which the visitor can walk freely. at regular intervals, there is room for a simple sofa composed of the same material.

the sculpture garden and the urn field 

dhooge & meganck has carved a number of new openings into the building in order to establish a strong connection between the existing, closed church and the surrounding garden. these openings present themselves as pointed arches, referring to the typical architectural detailing that is characteristic of the church. as a result, the inside-outside walk is continuously reinforced and the landscape extends through the church. new paths are drawn throughout the garden, as loose, informal lines through the natural garden. art pieces are placed in strategic places to decorate the courtyard, giving it a rather secular character.

in addition to this sculpture garden, a scattering meadow and an urn field will be provided. the latter takes shape as an abstraction of the house of silence, placed between the trees. ‘that way the story is complete,’ the architects say, ‘the trees outside are the wooden/stone columns inside, between which the silence reigns.’

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image by johnny umans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

project info: 

name: the house of silence
architects: dhooge & meganck architecture
structure: util 
techniques: denc-studio
client: the city of diksmuide and lampernisse
location: lampernisse, belgium