white gabled houses by dmvA integrate with the historic urban fabric of belgium

Apartments In de Stad interact with the historical surroundings

dmvA architectural group designs ‘In de Stad’, a sustainable, timeless, and small-scale infill housing project that is subtly implanted in the historic urban fabric of Mechelen, Belgium. With history as the concept’s guideline, the design arranges a new building with six apartments located on one of the main roads to the historic center. The project responds to the urban historic context characterized by 19th-century houses, narrow lots, and the presence of canals. For decades, developers have been struggling with the undeveloped terrain along the Sint-Katelijnestraat. The historical surroundings, the small scale, the irregular plot, and the location next to a covered canal are often breaking points to realizing a feasible development. ‘In de Stad’ stands as a contemporary yet ‘honest answer’ to the developer’s request to build as many residential units as possible on a small undeveloped spot.

all images by Sergio Pirrone

modest interpretation of historic houses with stepped gables

The sustainable infill housing unit subtly nestles into the historic urban fabric with the canal at the back of the plot determining the footprint of the project. The new volume takes the shape of the deep buildings once built along the canal, thus restoring the historic fabric. The design team frames the building as a modest interpretation of the two historic houses with stepped gables on the other side of the street. The six NZE apartments are designed in such a way that it is comfortable to live in the middle of the city by preserving privacy, creating quality outdoor spaces, double-height rooms, panoramic views, and a semi-public outdoor space that encourages social contact. The bicycle shed along the semi-public outdoor space is conceived as a ‘gallery’ to stimulate social contact between the residents. It can also be used flexibly as a covered outdoor area for children to play. A passage connects the semi-public outdoor space with the street.

‘In de Stad’ housing project is subtly implanted in the historic urban fabric of Mechelen

the new volume takes the shape of the deep buildings once built along the canal

the white building is a modest interpretation of historic houses with stepped gables

the frame subtly interacts with the surrounding context

the project achieves a contemporary design and uniformity to its urban environment

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project info:

name: Apartments In de Stad
designer: dmvA | @dmva_architects

design team: Tom Verschueren, David Driesen, Rob Naulaers, Gert-Jan Schulte, Jente Bergmans

location: Mechelen, Belgium

photography: Sergio Pirrone | @sergiopirrone