VAN HAMMEE

About: The aim of the project is to improve the house’s habitability without increasing its footprint. Internal circulation has been reconfigured to strengthen the relationship with the basement and to create visual connections between the different volumes. The introduction of a double-height space allows the living area to establish a strong new relationship with the garden, while also bringing natural light deep into the heart of the house.

The project was conceived with a deliberate economy of means. Rather than radically transforming the entire house, the approach focuses on targeted, precise interventions—architectural “acupuncture”—designed to meet the project’s objectives with minimal impact.
Particular attention was given to the enhancement of existing elements, limiting demolition and reusing materials in situ (tiling, fireplace surrounds, joinery, parquet flooring, etc.).
By dismantling and reworking circulation paths, the project enhances the existing structure and available surfaces while reducing the overall impact of the works.
The building’s energy performance has been significantly improved through the replacement of window frames and the installation of high-performance insulation.

Contractor: IMA Invest
Window frames: Innovation & Diffusion
Location: Schaerbeek, Brussels
Photographs: Nicolas da Silva Lucas